BRIDGEWATER — Baseball players often say they avoid social media and trade rumors. The MLB trade deadline, though, inevitably creates angst. For minor leaguers, there is always the lingering potential of being uprooted to a new organization.
Brendan Jones was one such player who figured to be coveted in trade negotiations last week as one of the Yankees’ top prospects (No. 20 according to MLB Pipeline), but the 23-year-old outfielder stayed put as the 6 p.m. deadline came and went last Thursday.
“Everybody knew this team is probably not going to be intact after the deadline, so it’s definitely something you’re thinking about,” Jones said recently at TD Bank Ballpark, home of Double-A Somerset. “But I just try not to worry too much about things that are out of my control, and stick to what is in your control. It’s my biggest thing to try and not get too worried or stressed out about it and just let things happen how they may.
Across six different trades, three current Patriots players moved to new teams — right-hander Trystan Vrieling, left-hander Ben Shields and second baseman Roc Riggio — along with five former Patriots players — catcher Rafael Flores, catcher Jesus Rodriguez, infielder Oswald Peraza, outfielder Everson Pereira and right-hander Clayton Beeter.
Somerset’s home game last Thursday was rained out in the afternoon, but some of the players were still at the field when news broke of Riggio and Shields heading to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-hander Jake Bird.
That gave players a chance to say goodbye to Riggio and Shields. Vrieling, ironically, ended up just switching dugouts when the Yankees traded for San Francisco Giants right-hander Camilo Doval later that day because the Patriots were hosting the Giants’ Double-A affiliate.
Jones had grown particularly close to Riggio, as both players were promoted to Somerset from High-A Hudson Valley on June 3.
“I love Roc. He’s a great teammate,” Jones said. “I got to play with him last year, and then I’ve been with him for the whole time he’s been playing this year. So yeah, it’s definitely tough because you make great relationships, great friendships … to see guys like that leave, it’s definitely tough.”
The nature of the business is that many minor leaguers will have to prove themselves elsewhere, especially since, as Jones notes, the Yankees field competitive big-league teams every year. But if they continue to develop, an opportunity in the major leagues will come somewhere.
Still, it helps the players dial in and focus even more once the trade deadline passes.
“It almost is like a little sigh of relief. Like, ‘OK, now we know where things stand. Now we can get back to baseball,’” Jones said. “I think that definitely makes it a little bit easier.”
If Jones was adversely affected last week, he certainly didn’t show it on the field as he crushed a game-winning home run Wednesday — his second in the seventh inning or later across a five-game span — then on Friday homered while tying the franchise record with four walks in a single game.
Jones entered Tuesday batting 5-for-12 with five walks and five RBI in August, fresh off a scorching hot July where he slashed .278/.395/.583 with 10 extra-base hits in 72 at-bats.
Overall this season, Jones is batting .243 with a .352 on-base percentage, 11 home runs and 33 stolen bases in 44 games at High-A and 46 games at Double-A.
“I think I’ve been doing pretty good of being able to pull the ball in the air, but a lot of my work has been working on not pulling the ball — kind of just back spinning balls opposite way, which I think that’s really helped me just overall,” the left-handed Jones said.
The numbers support that, too, as Jones has hit 36.5 percent of his batted balls in Double-A to the opposite field — the highest mark at any level of his pro career so far since the Yankees drafted him in the 12th round out of Kansas State last year.
Jones initially struggled at the plate in Double-A, slashing only .195/.286/.312 in June. But he feels that he learned from and adjusted to how pitchers were attacking him, and the Yankees have helped him keep growing in two key areas.
“They’re really big on the swing decision aspect, which I think has been really good,” Jones said. “Then just with some of my mechanics and swing stuff, as far as trying to get a little less steep and get a little truer spin on the ball and a little better posture over the plate. They’ve had a lot of good things for me that I think have helped me out and are helping me improve each step of the way.”
One aspect of his hitting that Jones says is purely coincidental is how his stance, quick launch move and swing are all very similar to former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner.
“It is pretty funny how similar the swings look, but definitely nothing I intentionally have done,” Jones said. “We’re both kind of similar stature in height and makeup, so I think kind of just naturally, that’s how we both swing.”
Jones has a chance to take a similar career path as someone who can hit for average, flash his speed on the base paths, and be a versatile outfielder who can play a strong center field.
“That’s always been my game is just like a scrappy kind of player,” Jones said. “I’m gonna play the game hard, steal bases, get on base, kind of do the little things that are important to win games. That’s always been my bread and butter, so that’s what I want to stick to and stay true to.”