Taylor Jones #25

Taylor Michael Jones....Became second Astros position player to be listed at 6’7” or taller, joining OF Walt Bond (6’-7”), who played for Houston from 1964-65...Among Major Leaguers in 2022, only OF Aaron Judge (NYY) and INF Oneil Cruz (PIT), both listed at 6’-7”, were as tall as Jones....Graduated from Kentwood HS in Covington, Wash. in 2012...Was 2012 Kentwood Athlete of the Year...Lettered three years in baseball and basketball...Was a pitcher and first baseman in baseball and a forward on basketball team...Led baseball team to two state championships (2010, 2012) and his basketball team to a state title in 2010....Attended Gonzaga, where he was a two-way player over his first two years at the school before converting to a full-time position player in his junior year...Hit .332 and ranked sixth in the nation in doubles (27) as a senior...Hit .358 and earned First Team All-WCC honors as a sophomore in 2015....Younger brother, Jordan, is a pitcher in the Guardians organization...Jordan was a 16th round pick of Cleveland in 2019 Draft and split 2022 season between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron....Originally signed by Astros scout Bryan Byrne.

2022

Began year on Astros injured list with low back discomfort...Sent on rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land, June 3 and was optioned to Triple-A following completion of rehab assignment... Ultimately totaled 74 games for Space Cowboys across two stints with team... Recalled by Houston, Aug. 1 and made only Major League appearance of season that day vs. Boston and grounded out in lone plate appearance as a pinch hitter to end the game (3-2 Red Sox victory)...Optioned back to Sugar Land the next day... Designated for assignment by Houston, Sept. 13 and was claimed by Giants Sept. 16 and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento...Appeared in seven September games for River Cats to end regular season.

2021

Had a strong season at Triple-A Sugar Land (48g) and chipped in at the Major League level (35g) in his 2021 season... Bounced between Triple-A and the Majors, making six stints on the Astros roster throughout the season...hit .245 (25x102) with eight doubles, two homers and 16 RBI in 35 Major League games... had two trips to the Major League IL, both COVID-related (April 20-21, Aug. 31-Sept. 15)... Had a slow start to the season, but recovered to hit .302 with an .858 OPS in his last 21 Major League games...had seven multi-hit games in that time frame, from June 20 thru the end of the year... Had a huge Triple-A season, hitting .331 (59x178) with 15 doubles, 10 homers, 44 RBI and a 1.009 OPS in 48 games...walked 31 times, compared to just 43 strikeouts, for a .425 OBP, a career-best mark.

2020

Made his MLB debut with Houston, appearing in seven games over three stints in the Majors...Was recalled to Houston from the Alternate Training Site on July 25 for his first MLB stint...Made his MLB debut on July 26 vs. SEA and went 0x2 in a start at first base...Recorded his first Major League hit and RBI on Aug. 19 at COL...went 2x5 with two RBI...Smacked his first-career homer on Aug. 22 at SD, a solo homer off Zach Davies.

2019

Recorded another great season after batting .291 (130x447) with 28 doubles, 22 homers, 84 RBI and a .889 OPS (.388 OBP / .501 SLG) in 125 games with Triple A Round Rock...the primary first baseman entering the 2019 season, started at four different positions, making 64 starts at first, 27 in left field, 14 at third base and two in right field...on June 6 at Las Vegas, recorded six RBI with five hits, both singlegame career-highs...was an MiLB.com Organization All-Star.

2018

Had a breakout season, earning Texas League Midseason All-Star honors after batting .314 (97x309) with 25 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 63 RBI and a .936 OPS (.409 OBP/.528 SLG) in 84 games with Corpus Christi...was promoted to Triple A Fresno on July 29 but ended the season back at Corpus Christi...named the Top Star of the Texas League All-Star Game after beating Victor Roache in the sudden-death home run contest to decide the winner of the game...went 2x4 with a double during the actual game...was named the Astros April Minor League Player of the Month after batting .354 (23x65) with 17 RBI and a 1.109 OPS in 19 games in April.