Jackson, TN – Former Waterloo Buck utility player James Jones has been named a Southern League All-Star. Jones, who played with Waterloo in 2008, is currently playing for the Jackson Generals and leads his team in runs, RBI, and stolen bases with 35, 40, and 20, respectively. The Southern League All-Star Game, which pits the best from the Double-A league’s North Division against the best from the South Division, will be played in Jacksonville, Florida on July 17.
Jones, a Long Island University product, is currently hitting .281 with five home runs and a .442 slugging percentage. Selected to the All-Star team as a Utility Outfielder, Jones is hitting .402 with runners in scoring position this season.
While with the Bucks, Jones was a two-way player, seeing action on both the mound and in the outfield for the team. He was named the Waterloo Bucks Roth Jewelers Player of the Year in 2008. The Brooklyn, New York native finished the ’08 Northwoods League season with a 5-2 record, a 2.45 ERA, and 58 strikeouts. At the plate, Jones hit .296 with eight doubles and 15 RBI. For his efforts, Jones was honored as one of Baseball America’s Top 10 MLB prospects of the NWL. Jones was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 MLB Draft (113th overall) by the Seattle Mariners.
The Bucks will finish a three-game homestand tonight, as they face the Rochester Honkers at 7:05 pm. The team will then travel to Rochester for a 7:05 pm game on Saturday, July 6, before returning home to play a single game versus the Honkers on Sunday, July 7 at 3:05 pm. Group outings and single-game tickets are currently on sale. For more information, call the Bucks’ Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633. All 70 Bucks games can be heard on 1330 ESPN (KWLO-AM).
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