Sir Jamison Jones
Born 5/19/2006 in Harvey, Illinois
6'2 225
B/T: R/R
School: St. Rita of Cascia (High School)
Drafted in the 15th round (440th overall) by the Washington Nationals ($500,00 bonus)
https://www.milb.com/player/sir-jamison-jones-806550Baseball Savant Scouting Report:
Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40
Named Sir Jamison by his parents as a means of commanding respect, Jones earned his fair share out of Chicago's St. Rita High School and was a showcase circuit mainstay in the summer of 2023 with stops in the PDP League and Area Code Games. He switched his commitment from Illinois State to Oklahoma State that fall but never became a Cowboy. The Nationals selected Jones in the 15th round and signed him for $400,000 ($250,000 of which counted toward their bonus pool), making him the third catcher in their '24 Draft class behind Caleb Lomavita and Kevin Bazzell. Jones featured in one of the Nationals' two Spring Breakout games and joined the club's Florida Complex League affiliate to begin his first full season.
It didn't take long for Jones to draw praise from the Nationals for his makeup and willingness to adjust to the rigors of the pro game. That's important for any young player but especially one with as much raw talent as the backstop. Checking in at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, he has ample strength in his right-handed swing -- from which he uses a minimal load with his lower half -- that could make him a power threat, but he struggled against breaking pitches and upper-end velocity in the showcases.
Jones' rocket of an arm is his best defensive asset at this early stage, and he drew attention with an impressive backpick to first base in the Breakout game against the Mets. But with his size and lack of speed, he might profile best as a future first baseman. That decision is likely years away, as Washington has every reason to help him stick behind the plate.
(Scouting report mentions a signing bonus of $400,000 but everything else I saw said it was $500,000)
