Gregory Jones Jr. Bio
Gregory Jones Jr. (born March 7, 1998) is an American professional baseball outfielder and shortstop currently playing in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The Cary, North Carolina native has appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. Jones was selected in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays and has built a reputation as an athletic defender with elite stolen-base ability throughout his minor league career.
Early Life and Background
Jones was born in Cary, North Carolina, to Tammy and Greg Jones. He attended Cary High School, where he developed into a highly regarded baseball prospect during his high school career. As a senior, he batted .429 with 18 stolen bases, demonstrating the blend of contact hitting and speed that would define his playing style.
His standout high school performance earned him recognition as the sixth-ranked prospect in North Carolina and 133rd nationally by Perfect Game. This production drew attention from Major League Baseball teams heading into the 2017 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite being selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 17th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Jones chose not to sign and instead enrolled at the University of North Carolina Wilmington to play college baseball for the Seahawks. This decision allowed him to further develop his skills at the collegiate level.
Jones made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2018, starting 60 games and slashing .278/.340/.384 with four home runs, 21 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. He continued his development during the summer, playing for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier collegiate summer leagues, where he hit .242 in 132 at-bats.
His breakthrough came as a sophomore in 2019. Jones posted a .341 batting average with five home runs, 36 RBIs, and a nation-leading 42 stolen bases in just 63 games. These exceptional numbers earned him Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year honors and solidified his status as a top MLB prospect heading into the 2019 Draft.
Gregory Jones Jr. Career
Tampa Bay Rays (2019–2023)
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Jones with the 22nd overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. He signed for a $3 million signing bonus and began his professional career with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Low-A New York-Penn League. Over 48 games, he showcased his tools by slashing .335/.413/.461 with one home run, 24 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases, demonstrating his ability to translate college success to professional competition.
The 2020 season was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellation of the minor league season, preventing Jones from continuing his development on the field. He returned in 2021 with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the High-A East before earning a promotion to the Montgomery Biscuits of Double-A South in August. A quadriceps injury interrupted his season, but he still managed to post impressive numbers across 72 games, combining for a .270/.366/.482 slash line with 14 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases between both levels.
Jones opened the 2022 season back at Double-A Montgomery and hit .238/.318/.392 with eight home runs, 40 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases in 79 games. His continued production and defensive versatility prompted the Rays to add him to their 40-man roster on November 15, 2022, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.
He began 2023 with Triple-A Durham Bulls and appeared in 71 games split between Triple-A and Double-A, hitting a cumulative .244/.318/.432 with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases before a hamstring injury landed him on the 60-day injured list on September 16, ending his season prematurely.
Colorado Rockies (2024)
On March 21, 2024, Jones was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for pitcher Joe Rock. He reported to Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the season and earned his first major league promotion on June 6, 2024. Notably, despite playing primarily as a shortstop throughout his minor league career, Jones appeared exclusively in right field during his time with Colorado.
He debuted for the Rockies and appeared in six games during his rookie campaign, going 1-for-5 at the plate with one home run, one RBI, and one walk. This brief stint provided him with his first MLB experience while continuing to refine his approach at the highest level.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
Jones started the 2025 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes before the Chicago White Sox claimed him off waivers on March 26, 2025. He was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte Knights but received a brief MLB opportunity with Chicago, appearing in three games where he recorded no hits and one stolen base across two plate appearances. The White Sox released him on May 10, 2025, ending his tenure with the organization.
Houston Astros (2025)
Jones signed with the Houston Astros on May 20, 2025, following his release from Chicago. He spent the remainder of the season with their minor league affiliates, appearing in five games split between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Astros and Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. He performed exceptionally in this limited sample, going 4-for-9 (.444) with three RBIs before electing free agency on November 6, 2025.
Milwaukee Brewers (2025–Present)
Jones signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 11, 2025, and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville Sounds to begin the regular season. He opened 2026 in strong fashion, batting .317 with seven RBIs and seven stolen bases across 13 games, which earned him a promotion to the major leagues on April 14, 2026.
Jones made his Brewers debut and appeared in 11 games, going 2-for-21 (.095) with one RBI and one stolen base. On May 4, 2026, he was designated for assignment by the Brewers and cleared waivers two days later, being sent outright to Triple-A Nashville.
Defensive Versatility and Strengths
Throughout his career, Jones has demonstrated the ability to play multiple positions, primarily shortstop in the minor leagues before transitioning to outfield at the major league level. His speed and instincts on the bases have consistently translated across all levels, with his 42 stolen bases during his sophomore college season leading all of Division I baseball. His defensive range and arm strength have made him a valuable roster piece capable of filling various roles.
Notable Career Milestones
Jones achieved several significant milestones including his first MLB home run with the Colorado Rockies in June 2024, his selection to the 40-man roster by Tampa Bay in 2022, and earning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year honors in 2019. His selection in the first round by the Rays marked him as one of the top prospects in his draft class.
Gregory Jones Jr. Career Statistics
Jones has compiled solid minor league numbers across five professional seasons, combining power, speed, and defensive versatility. His professional career has featured stops at every level from Low-A through Triple-A.
Minor League Highlights
Across his minor league career spanning 2019 through early 2026, Jones has shown the ability to hit for average while also providing pop and basestealing ability. His best professional season came in 2021 when he combined to hit 14 home runs with 40 RBIs and 34 stolen bases across High-A and Double-A. His 2019 debut with Hudson Valley saw him post a .335 average, and he has maintained an ability to get on base at a high clip throughout his career.
Major League Statistics
Through May 3, 2026, Jones has appeared in 20 major league games across three organizations, compiling a .107 batting average with one home run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases. His brief MLB appearances have been limited by roster transactions, but he continues to work toward establishing himself at the highest level.
| Level | Games | BA | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor League (Career) | 380+ | .264 | 47 | 174 | 169 |
| MLB (Career) | 20 | .107 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Gregory Jones Jr. Family
Family Background
Jones grew up in Cary, North Carolina, as the son of Tammy and Greg Jones. His baseball background appears to be self-developed, as there is no documented professional baseball lineage in his family. He has maintained strong ties to his home state throughout his amateur career, playing high school and college baseball entirely within North Carolina.
Personal Life
Jones completed his amateur career at Cary High School and the University of North Carolina Wilmington before beginning his professional career in 2019. He remains active on social media and has expressed appreciation for the support of fans throughout his minor league journey. Information regarding marital status or children is not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for Jones. He began the year with Triple-A Albuquerque after starting spring training with the Rockies organization. Following his mid-March trade to Colorado, he was assigned to Triple-A before his June promotion. After being claimed by Chicago in late March and appearing in three games with the White Sox, he was released in May and subsequently signed with Houston.
Jones finished the 2025 season strong with Houston’s lower-level affiliates, posting a .444 batting average in limited action across five games. His ability to perform well in these final appearances helped him secure another minor league opportunity with Milwaukee in December 2025, demonstrating his resilience and determination to continue his professional career despite numerous roster moves throughout the year.