In 1993, an 8-year-old Adam Jones sat inside San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium, watching his first MLB game in person thanks to tickets from his Lighthouse Baptist Church. Clenching his '92 All-Star Game towel in his seat, he followed the exploits of future Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman -- light years away from a Major League career of his own.

Almost three decades later, Jones has gone from simple spectator to 14-year MLB veteran, becoming a five-time American League All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and a Silver Slugger Award winner along the way. He is in the midst of his first season with the D-backs after signing in March.

In addition to his accolades on the field, Jones has been equally impactful off it. The San Diego native grew up as a member of the local Boys & Girls Club and has continued his personal efforts to help after-school programs and enhance children’s lives. In 11 seasons with the Orioles, he held various events with kids of the Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore, and he hopes to continue that sustained effort in Arizona.

“I grew up in the Boys & Girls Club system. A lot of my friends did and a lot of people I know did,” Jones said. “Being able to be a part of their expansion and me being able to impact kids and help them out, I look at that like it’s someone helping me out. It’s just a blessing to be able to use our platforms for good.”

Selected as the 37th overall pick by Seattle in the 2003 Draft, Jones is a career .278 hitter with a .318 on-base percentage. Transitioning to Arizona, he has the opportunity to play in his hometown of San Diego multiple times on frequent road trips in the National League West.

“My family and friends will get to see me play a little more often in person,” the D-backs outfielder said. “Being in the AL East, it was only Anaheim once. Now I get to go to L.A. three times and San Diego three times. They can fill up their tank and come see me play.”

Jones noted the best things about San Diego: fish tacos and the weather. He still lives in the area during the offseason and is a season ticket holder of the American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls, which is an affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. He even worked as an off-ice official for the Gulls in 2017, as he held doors open for players coming in and out of the penalty box.

Jones was a fan of Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin when he played in nearby Baltimore, and being from Southern California, he is a Ducks fan.

“I love it. It’s just a great sport,” said Jones on his love for hockey. “It’s the competition. It’s the reason why everybody likes any sport. It’s great competition.”

Competition is one aspect of Jones’ game that he brings to the D-backs’ organization. He also brings durability, having started at least 137 games every season since 2010.

Jones used to give D-backs manager Torey Lovullo headaches when the two faced one another in the AL East. Lovullo, who was a coach in the Red Sox organization from 2013-16, can still recall those at-bats.

“I sat on the opposing bench hanging on for dear life knowing he was going to do something special,” said Lovullo. “And he still does.”

Former Orioles teammate Caleb Joseph, who played alongside the D-backs outfielder from 2014-18 before being reunited in Arizona this season, is also familiar with Jones’ skill set.

“I have a lot of experiences with Adam. Our families know each other and our kids know each other, and he’s a pro,” said the catcher. “He’s been around a long time and experienced a lot in this game. He’s a great teammate who works hard and can still play. He’s a great addition, an awesome addition.

“Adam brings a unique personality and confidence that is contagious. His attitude, effort and who he is, is contagious. People want to be around him. People want to be around winners, and he’s been a winner for a majority of his career. He brings an element that I really think the D-backs will appreciate and enjoy.”