SAN FRANCISCO — The Seattle Mariners added some much-needed speed to their arsenal Monday, calling up outfielder James Jones from Triple-A Tacoma.
Jones stole 27 bases in 108 games for the Mariners last season, the most by any rookie in the American League and the second most by a rookie in franchise history.
“A lot of different factors went into it, but Jones brings speed, defense in the outfield, hopefully a spark in a different way for us,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said of the move before his team’s 5-1 victory against the Giants. “He’s capable of stealing bases when we need ’em, even when you know he’s going. We like that idea, particularly here in a National League ballpark and hopefully it pays off for us.
“That’s a tool we’re not blessed with, with this current club, and he brings that to the table, and it can manifest itself in a lot of different ways on both sides of the ball. I’m kind of excited about that.”
Jones filled the roster spot that opened Sunday night when the Mariners sent right-hander Danny Farquhar to Tacoma.
Last season Jones had four stints with the Mariners, making 72 starts. He batted .250 with nine doubles, five triples and nine RBIs.
“He played a big part in our success last year,” McClendon said. “When he came on the club he kind of energized us, jumpstarted us, and hopefully he can do that again.”
Jones slumped late last season, hitting .170 in his final 52 games, and opened this season with Tacoma. He hit .264 with one home run, six doubles, three triples and 13 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 48 games.
Jones struck out 67 times in 312 at-bats last season for Seattle, and he said he’s simplified his approach at the plate this season and concentrated on making more consistent contact.
“I was chasing it out of the zone, making it much easier for the pitchers,” Jones said. “For me, my legs are one of my assets. I need to get the ball in play.”
Jones was sidelined for three weeks early in the season after suffering a concussion while sliding head-first into third base and making hard contact with the third baseman’s knee.
“That was pretty scary,” Jones said. “It was lights out for a little bit.”
Jones, who struck out as a pinch hitter Monday, is expected to start on Tuesday against the Giants.