Atlanta Braves top 10 franchise outfielders- number 2: Andruw Jones

In 1996, the Atlanta Braves jumped out to an early two-game lead in the World Series, thanks in part to the 19-year old rookie outfielder.

The penultimate name on the list of the Atlanta Braves Franchise’s top ten outfielders won’t surprise anyone. While with the Braves, Andruw Jones was the best centerfielder in baseball.

The Braves signed the 16-year old outfielder as an international free agent on July 1, 1993, and assigned him to Rookie ball with the GCL Braves to start the 1994 season. It took only 27 games there before he moved to Danville.

Despite being two years younger than the league-average player, Jones had no trouble handling the pitching and finished the year batting .290/.368/.412/.780 with three homers, 14 doubles, and three triples. Those numbers were enough to make him baseball’s number 21 prospect entering the 1995 season.

The Atlanta Braves bumped Jones up to A-Ball at Macon in 1995. He played at 18 that season, hit 25 home runs, drove in 100 runs, and batted .277/.372/.512/884. Jones finished the season:

• First in
  • stolen bases- 56 in 67 attempts, an 83.5% success rate,
  • runs – 104
• Second in
  • total bases – 274
  • doubles – 43
• Third in
  • homers – 25
  • hits – 146

That kind of production is more impressive when you take into account that Jones played at three years and three months younger than league average. Baseball America named him baseball’s top prospect going into 1996.

Andruw started 1996 in A+ ball, moved to AA 66 games later, and AAA after another 38 games. His production explains why promotions came quickly.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

No one was surprised when the World Series bound Atlanta Braves called him Jones up in August.