Houston ― Before the rains washed out the series finale Sunday in Cleveland, Tigers manager AJ Hinch addressed what was becoming a big, fat elephant in the room: the continuing struggles of Jahmai Jones.
To say he’s going through it right now is underplaying it. Jones, albeit in sporadic at-bats, hasn’t got a hit since May 26. Going into the play Monday, he was 1 for his last 30. Despite a 91.3-mph average exit velocity and a 44.4% hard-hit rate, he has just 11 hits in 90 plate appearances this season and is carrying the weight of a sub.-500 OPS.
As the Tigers continue to juggle the roster, both the active and 40-man, it feels like Jones is hanging on by a thread.
Hinch, in a long, thoughtful response, simultaneously gave Jones a vote of confidence and a kick in the pants.
“It’s been a tough year for Jahmai,” he said. “But he’s continued to hit the ball pretty hard and he’s still a real threat. Different teams have handled him differently. Some have gone right at him with the lefty and others, like the Guardians with (Hunter) Gaddis, go to the right-hander to avoid the pinch-hitter.”
It’s important to remember that Jones has a very distinct, bat-only role in the Tigers’ roster construction. His one job, as a right-handed hitter, is to slug left-handed pitching. Coming off the bench in the middle of the game, often after not playing for a few games, starting only against lefties, it’s a tough ask.
But it’s a role Jones played brilliantly last year, slugging .577 with a .970 OPS. His ability to produce at that level gave opposing managers a pick-your-poison decision at some point in the game. If they wanted to keep a left-handed pitcher in the game against Kerry Carpenter of Colt Keith, they knew they were going to have to deal with the threat of Jones.
That threat hasn’t seemed as daunting for managers lately.
“I know he’s still a threat,” Hinch said. “We still believe in him. He’s doing a ton of work, trying to figure out timing and his ability to get on the pitches he needs to. Part of the strategy of having a weapon off the bench is to have a counter to anything that they do.”
Jones is out of minor-league options. So if the Tigers decide to seek a different lefty-slayer, they would have to designate Jones for assignment. That’s not something the organization wants to do hastily.
But the clock is ticking.
“We need Jahmai to do his part to have the strategy truly functioning the way it is designed and how the roster is built,” Hinch said. “We continue to give him opportunities because we believe in him. But clearly we need production in order to continue that. We have seen him deliver before on the highest stage that we’ve played on.
“How long that lasts, I don’t know. This roster is always in flux and production matters. But we’re going to continue to work with him because we believe in him.”
Tigers at Astros
First pitch: 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Daikin Park, Houston
TV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1 FM
Scouting report
LHP Framber Valdez (3-5, 4.40), Tigers: He will be returning to Houston for the first time since leaving for free agency after last season. He spent eight seasons there, establishing himself as one of the game’s top lefties, posting a 81-52 record with a 3.36. He was a two-time All-Star there and helped the Astros win the World Series in 2022. It should be an emotional reunion for him.
RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 0.84), Astros: Well, of course, the Wayne State product would make his return against the Tigers. He’s been out since May 31 with a Grade 2 shoulder strain. He made three rehab starts at Triple-A Sugar Land, throwing 78 pitches in his last one. He made two starts in March before being shut down and he punched out 17 in 10.2 innings.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers not ready to punt on Jahmai Jones, but clock might be ticking
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Chris McCosky, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
