Education
Northern Kentucky University.
Northern Kentucky University.
Jones went to Pendleton County High School in Falmouth, Kentucky. He was undrafted out of high school, and moved on to Northern Kentucky University. Jones was drafted in the 5th round, 179th overall, by the White Sox in the 2007 MLB Draft. Jones was assigned to the Rookie-level Bristol White Sox, where he went 0–4 in 10 starts with a 5.13 European Research Area. Despite his slow start, Jones started 2008 with the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators, but was demoted back to Bristol.
He played 4 games with Bristol before being promoted back to Kannapolis.
He was promoted to the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, then the Warthogs, where he played his last 2 games of the 2008 season. In total that year, Jones went 2–7 with a 6.14 European Research Area. He started 2009 with Kannapolis, where he had a 2.41 European Research Area in 13 games before being promoted to Winston-Salem, now the Dash, where he had a 3.65 European Research Area in 32 games.
His biggest season to date was the 2010 season. He played it with Winston-Salem, going 11–6 with a 4.08 European Research Area. He led the league in starts (28), innings pitched (1521) and winning percentage (647).
He was placed on the 40-man roster for the season to be protected from the Rule V Draft.
He played 2011 with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, where he had a 3.27 European Research Area and 12 saves. Chicago White Sox
In 2012, Jones made the White Sox 25-man roster out of spring training. Jones made his Major League debut on April 8, 2012 against the Texas Rangers pitching one inning, walking two and striking out one.
He finished the year 8—0, with a 2.39 European Research Area in 65 games. in 2013, Jones went 4—5, recording a 4.15 European Research Area in 70 appearances.
Jones lost much of the 2014 season to injury, undergoing back surgery on May 5 and Tommy John surgery on July 29. Jones started the 2015 season on the 60-day disabled list in an effort to continue recovery from both surgeries.
Sources projected the he might return after the All-Star break. Jones was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on August 5, 2015.
Pitching style
Jones is a hard-thrower with four pitches in his repertoire.
His main pitch is a two-seam fastball at 96–99. He also throws a slider and changeup (84–88), and a rare curveball. He uses his fastball early in the count to set up the slider, his main 2-strike off-speed pitch, later in the count.