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The Situation: With the Tigers still in the thick of the playoff chase, they continue to look for offensive support while Nick Castellanos and Cameron Maybin deal with injuries. Jones gets the call after Casey McGehee struggled in the big leagues, and bringing him up now affords the Tigers the opportunity to use him on the 25-man roster in October, if they so choose.

Background: Drafted with the 87th-overall pick by the Pirates in 2013, Jones was traded to the Tigers in exchange for Joakim Soria at last year's trade deadline. After serving a 50-game suspension for recreational drugs during the Arizona Fall League and the start of the 2016 season, Jones returned to Double-A this summer, before a promotion to Triple-A Toledo.

Scouting Report: Jones has tantalized scouts with his raw athleticism and chiseled physique since he was a freshman at LSU. Though his on-field results have been erratic, his raw ability remains intriguing and worthy of big league attention.

Offensively, Jones offers plus speed that plays down the line and on the bases. He is an explosive athlete that gets up to speed quickly and is aggressive when running the bases. He has improved his reads and instincts throughout his pro career, making him a legitimate stolen base threat. In addition to his speed, Jones offers above-average bat speed that generates impressive exit velocity and hard line drives from line to line. In a perfect world, Jones' bat speed would result in above-average to plus power, but his inability to develop his hit tool has held back his entire offensive game. An aggressive hitter, Jones swings early and often with little regard for situation, pitch type, or location, making his hard contact all too infrequent. In the end, with a hit tool that projects to below-average even with the most optimistic of scouts, Jones' power tends to play in the 12-15 home run, fringe-average realm as well.

In the field, Jones' athleticism has yet to translate to comfort and a defensive home. While he moves well and has the quick twitch athleticism to handle the middle of the dirt, Jones lacks the instincts or hands for the position. At third base, his plus arm plays well, but he is too often caught in between on hops and doesn't consistently receive the ball cleanly, making the overall package a bit clunky and unlikely to play on an everyday basis. The Tigers have given Jones ample opportunity in the outfield as well, where he has been solid, if unspectacular.

With a glove that can survive at five or six positions, albeit not at a level clubs would tolerate for an extended stretch, and an offensive game that is not devoid of ability, Jones has promise as a versatile utility player that provides some speed and pop to the lineup and/or bench.

Immediate Big-League Future: Jones will have an opportunity to play third base consistently until Nick Castellanos returns from a broken hand near the end of the season. Given the limited production the club has received from the position in Castellanos' absence, and the long-term potential they believe Jones owns, he will likely get a lengthy leash that could prove beneficial for his development. Once Castellanos returns, Jones could easily slide into his likely long-term utility role and help the club during the playoffs. —Mark Anderson

Fantasy Take: Jones’ positional flexibility and the Tigers’ injury woes could keep him in the lineup close to every day. He can play shortstop, third base, and outfield, which works out well for the Tigers since they have significant injuries at all three spots. Manager Brad Ausmus has said that the 24-year old will play more often against lefties than righties, but he wouldn’t have to hit much to unseat current everyday players Andrew Romine or Erick Aybar at third base or shortstop, respectively.

What can you expect the Oklahoman to do with his playing time? In 413 plate appearances this season across Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .257/.327/.407 with seven home runs and thirteen stolen bases. He posted decent walk rates of eight percent in Double-A and eleven percent in Triple-A but he also swung and missed an awful lot, striking out in 26 percent of his plate appearances in Double-A and a whopping 30 percent of his plate appearances in Triple-A.

He might have a hard time putting the ball in play initially, and if those struggles last long enough, he could find himself relegated to the bench. If he gets off to a hot enough start to keep his name on the lineup card most days, he could hit a home run or two for your team down the stretch while stealing two or three bases. And that walk rate means he’s more a little more interesting in OBP leagues than he is in AVG leagues. —Scooter Hotz

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