Druw Jones keeps giving runners a reason to regret it.
The D-backs’ No. 23 prospect flashed the kind of arm that has made him one of the Minors’ elite defenders in Friday night’s 17-1 win for Double-A Amarillo over San Antonio at HODGETOWN. In the top of the second, Padres runner Ryan Jackson tried to score from third, and Jones cut him down with a throw that turned into his 13th assist of the season, tying him for the Minor League lead among outfielders.
As Amarillo broadcaster Zach Goodman said while the play unfolded:
“They’re gonna test it -- bad idea! Throw on the money, Druw got another. When will they learn?!”
That assist also gave right-hander David Hagaman some early support. The D-backs’ No. 4 prospect worked five scoreless innings and struck out three, continuing a strong first full season in Arizona’s system. Acquired at last year’s Trade Deadline as part of the return from Texas in the Merrill Kelly deal, the 23-year-old has posted a 2.55 ERA in seven Double-A starts and a sharp 46/12 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings.
For Jones, the defense has never really been the question. Since entering pro ball, he’s been known for the kind of glove that changes games.
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis said after Jones was drafted that he was nearly big league-ready defensively coming out of Georgia prep ranks, and the years since have only reinforced that view. He’s one of just eight ranked prospects in baseball to earn a 70-grade fielding tool on the 20-80 scale.
The bat, though, has taken longer to catch up. The No. 2 pick in the 2022 Draft found more rhythm in the second half of 2025 with High-A Hillsboro, and he’s shown more of that upside in Amarillo this year too. His line includes the first cycle in franchise history, along with some huge home runs that have hinted at the ceiling.
September has been especially loud. Jones added three more hits Friday and is hitting .351/.400/.541 in nine games this month.
That follows a June stretch in which he batted .368 with a .989 OPS. The strikeouts are still there - his 28.9 percent rate remains high - and he’s still pounding the ball into the ground too much, with a 54.1 percent ground-ball rate entering Friday.
But he’s making up for some of that with power and a 70-grade run tool that’s tied for the best among ranked D-backs prospects, plus 37 stolen bases on the season.
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