Stephen Jones never stopped believing.
And he never stopped working.
Now, he’s in the Major Leagues.
The Miami Marlins called up the former Chiles High and Samford pitcher on Thursday, May 7, promoting the 28-year-old right-hander to The Show.
Jones becomes just the second Chiles player to reach the majors, joining former teammate and pitcher Bowden Francis of the Toronto Blue Jays.
“He has persevered, kept plugging along, and now he’s getting an opportunity,” former Chiles coach Dick Steed said. “We are really happy for him.”
A 6-foot-4 reliever, Jones could make his MLB debut in Miami as the Marlins wrap up a homestand against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday before hosting the Washington Nationals from May 8-10. Jones did not pitch in the Marlins’ win over Baltimore Thursday night.
Jones, a 2015 graduate of Chiles who pitched sparingly his senior season following arm surgery, is the latest from that heralded class to make it to the Big Leagues.
Other local pitchers in that class included Francis, NFC’s Cole Sands (Minnesota Twins), Cole Ragans (Kansas City) and Lincoln’s Tyler Holton (Detroit Tigers). Francis, Sands and Holton were each promoted to the big leagues six days apart in 2022.
Additionally, Tallahassee resident and former Florida State ace Luke Weaver is in his 11th MLB season. He signed with the New York Mets in 2026. Plus, former Wakulla pitcher Brad Lord is in his second season with the Washington Nationals.
Marlins promote former Chiles pitcher Stephen Jones to The Show
It’s been a whirlwind 24 hours for Jones.
Jones opened the 2026 season in Double-A Pensacola before earning a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, May 6, making the I-10 drive across North Florida. He didn’t pitch in Wednesday’s game for the Jumbo Shrimp.
Later that night, around 10 p.m., Jones called his parents with even bigger news — he was headed to the big leagues.
“We’ve been scrambling,” his father, Earl, said as family members made their way from Tallahassee to Miami. “It’s exciting.”
Jones, a 21st-round pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2019, has spent seven seasons grinding through the minors. He owns a 21-12 career record with a 5.15 ERA, 23 saves and 341 strikeouts against 140 walks.
He was off to a strong start this season, going 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 10 appearances at Pensacola.
Steed said Jones’ moment comes as no surprise.
As a sophomore in 2013 with no varsity experience, Jones was thrust into a playoff game as a starter and helped Chiles reach the Final Four.
“The lights weren’t too bright for him, and he did a great job,” Steed said.
Jones later pitched for Samford, including an appearance in the Tallahassee Regional.
Now, after years of persistence, he’s reached baseball’s biggest stage.
Jones and his wife, who also attended Chiles and Samford, have an 18-month-old child.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Chiles pitcher Stephen Jones called up to Miami Marlins
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
