| Gary Jones | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jones with the Chicago Cubs in 2017 | |
| Detroit Tigers – No. 86 | |
| Third base coach | |
| Born: (1960-11-11)November 11, 1960 (age 65) Henderson, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
As Coach
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Gary Wayne Jones (born November 11, 1960) is an AmericanMajor League Baseballcoach and a formerplayer andmanager inminor League baseball.
Formerly, Jones was the third-base coach of theChicago Cubs from 2014 to 2017 and the first-base coach of theOakland Athletics in 1998. More recently, he was the manager of theLehigh Valley IronPigs,Triple-AInternational League affiliate of thePhiladelphia Phillies (2018–2019, 2021).[1]
The Cubs originally signed Jones as a 21-year-oldfree agent infielder in 1982 out of theUniversity of Arkansas. Jones played for seven years in the Cubs and Athleticsfarm systems, including two seasons with the Triple-ATacoma Tigers, andbatted .283 with ninehome runs in 899 minor league games between 1982 and 1989. He battedleft-handed, threwright-handed, stood 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed 162 pounds (73 kg).
After retiring as a player, he was a manager in the Oakland,Boston Red Sox, andSan Diego Padres organizations. From 1990 to 1997, 1999–2001 and 2003–06, Jones led teams in theInternational League,Pacific Coast League,Southern League,Midwest League, andArizona Fall League. He managed theMadison Muskies,Huntsville Stars,Edmonton Trappers,Pawtucket Red Sox,Fort Wayne Wizards andMobile BayBears. He served the Red Sox as coordinator of minor league instruction in2002.
Jones led the Stars to the Southern League championship in 1994 and the Trappers to back-to-back Pacific Coast League championships in 1996 and 1997. He also won Manager-of-the-Year Awards in 1991 (Madison), 1994 (Huntsville), 1996 and 1997 (both with Edmonton). In his first season with Lehigh Valley, he led the 2018 IronPigs to an 84–56win–loss record and the International League North Division championship, although his team was eliminated in the opening round of theGovernors' Cup playoffs.[2] Through 2018, his career mark as a minor league manager was 1,124–1,028 (.522).
Prior to his appointment to the2014 coaching staff of then-Cub managerRick Renteria, Jones spent seven years as the roving minor leagueinfield instructor for the San Diego Padres, where Renteria had been a Major League coach. He was retained whenJoe Maddon replaced Renteria as manager in October 2014 for the2015 season, and was the third-base coach for the2016 Cubs'National League andWorld Series championship team.
In December 2021, Jones was hired to manage theToledo Mud Hens, theDetroit Tigers Triple-A team. On January 27, 2022, Jones was named first base coach for the Tigers' major league team, replacingKimera Bartee who died suddenly in late 2021.[3]
· Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Huntsville Starsmanager 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Edmonton Trappersmanager 1995–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Oakland Athleticsfirst base coach 1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Pawtucket Red Soxmanager 1999–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mobile BayBearsmanager 2004–2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chicago Cubsthird base coach 2014–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lehigh Valley IronPigsmanager 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Detroit Tigersfirst base coach 2022– | Succeeded by Incumbent |