Jimmy Jones

Who is Jimmy Jones?

James Condia Jones is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and former interim bullpen coach for the San Diego Padres. He played eight seasons in the major leagues with the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Montreal Expos, and two seasons in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants in 1994 and 1995.

Jones was known for being a first-round draft pick by the Padres out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, Texas. While in high school Jones had gained national attention for striking out 28 batters in a 16-inning play-off game while throwing 251 pitches. Jones claimed in a 2004 interview that his arm was so sore two days after the marathon effort that he could not throw a baseball from third base to first base.

Jones threw a one-hit shutout against the first-place Houston Astros in his big league debut on September 21, 1986. He was the first pitcher to throw a one-hitter in his debut game since Billy Rohr in 1967. He is currently the pitching coach for the Peoria Padres of the Arizona League.

Jones served as the interim bullpen coach for the San Diego Padres for the part of the 2012 season, following the passing of Darrel Akerfelds. He was replaced by Willie Blair in December 2012.