PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jahmai Jones had a perfect day at the plate on Friday, reaching base in all five trips to the plate and belting his first homer of the Arizona Fall League season to lead the Mesa Solar Sox to an 8-0 win over the Peoria Javelinas.
Jones, a second-round Draft pick by the Angels in 2015 and the team's No. 4 prospect, went 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. He was also hit by a pitch. His solo shot off Javelinas reliever Brandon Lawson (Rays) put Mesa up, 7-0 in the fourth.
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"Just got a pitch in my zone. Just felt good today at the plate, felt good today in the cage before we came over so I just tried to ride it out as long as I could," Jones said.
Mesa hurlers struck out 16 Javelinas in what was the first shutout of the 2018 Fall League, including six by Red Sox No. 7 prospect Darwinzon Hernandez, who fanned the size in the sixth and seventh innings.
"I felt great. Our team played absolutely amazing today," Jones said.
Jones is no stranger to athletic success. His brother, T.J., is a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, the team his father Andre also played for.
The 21-year-old is knocking on the door of the big leagues after converting from the outfield to the infield and reaching Double-A this year, but he trusts Angels General Manager Billy Eppler with his future.
"That's not up to me, it's up to Billy and what he thinks is right and whatever decision he thinks is right, I'm rolling with," Jones said.
Despite going hitless in his first two Fall League games, Jones did draw two walks in each, stole a base and scored three runs. He now sports a .643 OBP through three games.
Jones only hit .239 between Class A Advanced Inland Empire and Double-A Mobile, but he did draw 67 walks for a combined .337 on-base percentage while hitting 10 homers and stealing 24 bases
"Of course I wanna be in the big leagues! Who doesn't wanna be in the big leagues? But it's all a plan. Whatever happens happens;" Jones said.
The Roswell, Ga. native is more than 1,800 miles away from home, but he has a secret to what has been a successful start to Fall League and what he hopes will be an even more successful 2019 season.
"I try not to take it too hard on stuff that's out of my control and just have some fun while doing it."