Taylor Jones facts for kids

Taylor Michael Jones (born December 6, 1993) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman and outfielder. Taylor is from Kent, Washington. He went to Gonzaga University and played college baseball for the Bulldogs. The Houston Astros picked him in the 2016 MLB draft. He played his first Major League Baseball (MLB) game in 2020.

High School Baseball Star

Taylor Jones went to Kentwood High School in Covington, Washington. There, he played both basketball and baseball. In baseball, he was a pitcher and a first baseman. In 2012, during his last year of high school, he helped his team win a big state championship. After high school, he decided to go to Gonzaga University to play college baseball.

College Baseball Journey

At Gonzaga, Taylor started playing in 2013. As a freshman, he pitched a bit and also batted. In 2014, his second year, he continued to pitch and hit. He even hit one home run.

In 2015, Taylor decided to focus only on hitting and playing first base. This was a great choice! He hit very well, with a batting average of .358. He also hit five home runs and brought in 30 runs for his team. Because of his great performance, he was named to the All-WCC First Team. The Chicago Cubs drafted him that year, but he chose to stay in college.

In 2016, his senior year, Taylor played in 56 games. He was amazing at hitting doubles, getting 27 of them, which was one of the best in the country. He also hit .332 and had 36 runs batted in. He earned many awards for his skills and his good grades.

Professional Baseball Career

Playing for the Houston Astros

The Houston Astros chose Taylor Jones in the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with them and started his professional career with the Tri-City ValleyCats. He played well, hitting eight home runs and bringing in 38 runs. He was even named an All-Star in his league.

In 2017, Taylor played for two different teams, the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Buies Creek Astros. He continued to improve his skills.

By 2018, he was playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks and later for the Fresno Grizzlies. He had a fantastic year, hitting 18 home runs and bringing in 80 runs. In 2019, he played for the Round Rock Express. He hit 22 home runs and had 84 runs batted in. After this great season, the Astros added him to their main team roster.

Taylor made his big league debut with the Astros on July 26, 2020. He hit his first MLB home run on August 22. In 2021, he played in 35 games for the Astros. He hit two home runs and brought in 16 runs. He played both first base and left field. That same year, he also played very well for the Triple-A Sugar Land team, hitting .332.

In 2022, Taylor had some back pain, which kept him from playing for a while. He returned to play for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. He also played one game for the Astros that year. Later, he was moved off the Astros' main roster.

Time with Other Teams

On September 16, 2022, the San Francisco Giants picked up Taylor. He played for their Triple-A team, the Sacramento River Cats. After that season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.

On January 13, 2023, Taylor signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He played 49 games for their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees. He hit eight home runs and had 29 runs batted in. After this season, he again became a free agent.

Becoming a Coach

On January 29, 2024, Taylor Jones returned to the Houston Astros. This time, he was hired as a hitting coach for their rookie-level team, the Florida Complex League Astros. He now helps young players learn how to hit better.