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Former Andrew star Jonesing to stick in the big leagues

September 10, 2007
By Nathaniel Whalen Staff writer
Daily Southtown

Terry Ryan leans back in his chair, picking his words carefully when talking about Garrett Jones.

The Minnesota Twins general manager knows that Jones, a Harvey native and Tinley Park resident, is in his club's plans for the future, and he believes in the left-handed-hitting outfielder. But the GM reveals the two very big reasons why Jones hasn't been able to stick in "The Show" just yet.

"His best position is first, and we have a pretty good first baseman," Ryan said, referring to reigning American League Most Valuable Player Justin Morneau. "His next-best position is right, and we have a pretty good right fielder (cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer). So we pretty much put him out in left, and it's been a little bit of an experiment for him and us. Playing the outfield in the Metrodome is no piece of cake, either.

"It's been a little bit of a challenge in both areas, defensively and offensively, but this guy is strong, he's got one of the attributes that we're looking for badly -- power, power potential. And he doesn't quit -- ever.

"So he's everything you look for, makeup-wise. We're just waiting, being patient with most of our young players, and he's another guy that will, I think, ultimately be rewarded when he does get a chance for consistent playing time."

Morneau and Cuddyer go a long way toward explaining why Jones is in the big leagues as a September call-up (his fourth call-up this year) instead of in the lineup every day.

Though the up-and-down, back-and-forth life of a prospect has been frustrating for someone who believes he belongs in the bigs, Jones has learned from every stint with the Twins and thinks he's almost ready to crack the lineup full-time.

"It's a little difficult mentally, getting up here and knowing you can play, then going back down," Jones, 26, said Friday night during his first-ever visit to U.S. Cellular Field as an opposing player rather than a fan. "There's still a lot to prove that you belong up here.

"The first time up, I was relaxed and just happy to be there. Then the second time up, I was like, 'All right, now I have to get the job done and show them what I can do' and then started pressing a little bit and trying to overdo a few things.

"The third time I got called up, I was pressing a little bit, but I started watching more games, getting more comfortable, just watching guys.

"(Now) I have just started to feel more comfortable, relaxed. I got in there against the Royals (on Sept. 2) and had a three-hit game and felt more relaxed, felt I could do this, and the confidence is definitely up. It took time for me, but I think I'm relaxed and realize I belong here."

On Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field, the Andrew High School product showed a glimpse of why he belongs. With his fianc--e, Angie, her family, his former high school coach, his family and plenty of friends in attendance, Jones hit a fourth-inning RBI single against his favorite childhood team.

"It's pretty exciting. It's unbelievable, playing in your hometown, growing up in a city as a Sox fan, going to all the Sox games," Jones said. "It's unbelievable now to say I'm playing against them. Getting on the field is a great feeling.

"(But) I can't say I'm a fan right now. I grew up a huge fan and everything, growing up on the South Side in Tinley Park, but right now, they're the other team, the enemy, and I've got to go against them."

Perhaps soon, he'll be playing against them regularly.

"He hasn't had the ability to be out there on any consistent basis, so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he's good athlete, got versatility, he's a good teammate, he tries," Ryan said.

"It's just a matter of him feeling more comfortable and getting a few more repetitions before I think he'll end up settling in here."