Tyler Jones Tries To Stick In Bullpen

PHOENIX—Righthander Tyler Jones has been through enough in his baseball career that he doesn’t need help recognizing the opportunity he’ll have with the Diamondbacks this spring as a Rule 5 draft selection.

“It’s a little bit easier to understand and grasp the opportunity when you’ve been grinding, so to speak, through the minor leagues and are just looking for an opportunity,” Jones said.

“When they come, it’s easier to take advantage of that. I definitely didn’t take advantage of opportunities the same way when I was younger. Hopefully I learn from those mistakes.”

Jones is 27 and has been released before, back in 2015 by the Twins, who drafted him out of Louisiana State in the 11th round in 2011. He has spent parts of three seasons at high Class A and two at Double-A. He has looked around clubhouses and realized he’s the oldest guy in the room.

But after posting impressive numbers in the Yankees system at Double-A Trenton—he logged a 2.17 ERA with 67 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 46 innings in 2016—the D-backs snapped him up in the Rule 5 and will thrust him into the mix in their wide-open bullpen.

Jones said he was throwing 97-98 mph but with poor command during his final season with the Twins, and it wasn’t until signing with the Braves, who picked him up shortly after he was released, that he tried to focus on making quality pitches with less velocity.

“This past year I started to cut it loose again and get it up to 96-97 (mph) but also maintain the command and the composure that I had started to show in 2015,” he said.

The D-backs were impressed by his second-half performance (one earned run in 23.1 innings) and his power stuff, which includes a hard breaking ball, and believe he might be a late-bloomer.

“When it comes together later, sometimes you get opportunities like this,” general manager Mike Hazen said.

SNAKE BITES

• Pitching for Dominican powerhouse Licey in winter ball, righthander Matt Koch had allowed just three earned runs in 22.2 innings, while walking one and striking out 13.

• Righthander Keyvius Sampson signed a minor league deal in December and will compete for a spot in the bullpen. The Reds had non-tendered him.