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First game. First pitch. First swing.
Jahmai Jones — pinch-hitting in his Detroit Tigers debut — crushed a home run on the first pitch he saw from a left-handed reliever in the eighth inning Friday, June 6, at Comerica Park. His swing sent a sellout crowd of 40,132 fans into a frenzy.
It was a key insurance run in the Tigers' 3-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
"I walked up, and I was like, 'All right, I'm ready for the moment,'" said Jones, competing in the 70th game of his MLB career. "Whatever happened, happened — positive or negative. I felt like I was prepared. I could go to sleep with whatever the result was."
JEFF SEIDEL: Jahmai Jones overcame losing his Detroit Lion father to become a Detroit Tiger
The big moment for Jones occurred at 9:11 p.m. in Detroit — a city close to his heart for family reasons. His father, Andre Jones, played six games for the Lions as a linebacker in 1992. His older brother, T.J. Jones, played 42 games for the Lions as a wide receiver from 2015-18.
His father died on June 22, 2011, after suffering a brain aneurysm.
He was 42 years old.
"Obviously, Detroit has a special place in my heart," said Jones, who turns 28 in two months, "just because of the family ties, so being able to do it myself and add to it, it's everything I could ask for."
Celebrate 125 epic seasons of the Tigers with our new book!
On Friday morning, Jones woke up in a hotel room in Columbus, Ohio, as a player for the Toledo Mud Hens. A call from the Tigers sent him scrambling — maybe even leaving some clothes behind — but he packed the essentials: wallet, phone, keys, baseball gear. He got on the road at 11 a.m., leaving behind life in Triple-A. By 2:30 p.m., he was in the clubhouse with ace Tarik Skubal at Comerica Park, joining his fifth MLB team in five seasons.
"I didn't take a breath until I sat down in the car," Jones said.
It was his first time at Comerica Park since 2015, when the Tigers hosted him for a pre-draft workout. That year, the Tigers could've taken Jones with their No. 65 overall pick, but instead, they selected left-hander Tyler Alexander. Five picks later, the Los Angeles Angels drafted Jones, at No. 70 overall.
It was also his first time in Detroit since 2018, when his brother played his final season with the Lions. He noticed how the city has changed over the past seven years, though he didn't go into detail. These days, there's a championship-caliber buzz on either side of Brush Street, around both Comerica Park and Ford Field.
What did he think about the crowd in his Tigers debut?
"You tell me," Jones said. "There's 40,000 people out there. Packed house. That was amazing. I'm loving every bit of it so far. I can't complain."
THE GAME: Spencer Torkelson supports Tarik Skubal with home run in Tigers' 3-1 win over Cubs
Before Friday's game, the Tigers promoted Jones to replace struggling Andy Ibáñez, who was optioned to Triple-A. Both players are right-handed hitters with a history of success against left-handed pitchers, allowing Jones to take over for Ibáñez in the platoon role — pinch-hitting against left-handed relievers, starting against left-handed starters.
The Tigers signed Jones to a minor league contract in November 2024, targeting him because he controls the strike zone, hits left-handed pitchers and defends himself against right-handed pitchers. He had several offers, but he chose the Tigers.
Nobody knows how long he'll stick.
But he's here now.
"I told myself I would put my head down and keep working, regardless of if it was a week, two weeks, a month, All-Star break, end of the season," said Jones, reflecting on not making the Tigers' Opening Day roster. "Thankfully, that happened in June rather than later, but regardless of when it was, I was going to be ready."
That's exactly what Jones told manager A.J. Hinch at the end of spring training, just days before Opening Day. He impressed in camp, but he was one of the final players cut.
Jones felt disappointed — but not defeated.
"I told him that when I was leaving," Jones said. "I said, 'Look, whenever you give me the call, I'll be ready to go.'"
In Triple-A Toledo, Jones hit .276 with six home runs, 24 walks and 46 strikeouts across 52 games, posting an .875 OPS. He hit both lefties and righties, and he played all three outfield positions.
He stayed on the Tigers' radar.
"He did everything imaginable in the spring to make this team," Hinch said. "We didn't configure the roster with him, and in typical Jahmai fashion, he didn't get bitter, he didn't get mad, and he didn't waste his time in the minor leagues."
[ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER!Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ]
In Friday's game, Jones sat next to injured Matt Vierling in the dugout during the early innings, with Vierling sharing advice on when to prepare for a pinch-hit opportunity — a strategy Hinch implements more than most managers, especially as opposing teams deploy left-handed relievers against his lefty hitters.
"What should I expect?" Jones asked.
He wanted to know when Hinch would start making in-game moves. He usually started preparing around the sixth inning in years past with other teams.
"You should be ready earlier than that," Vierling said.
"What if we're up 6-0 or down 6-0?" Jones asked.
"He does not mind," Vierling said. "Be ready to go."
"Oh really," Jones said.
"You got to be ready," Vierling said.
By the fourth inning, thanks to Vierling's advice, Jones started his pinch-hit routine. By the eighth, Hinch called his number — to pinch-hit for Kerry Carpenter with one out against Cubs left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera.
He was prepared.
"There's a lot of looking over charts, looking at video, going to the cage, getting ready in the weight room," Jones said. "There's a whole routine that I do when I start, and there's a routine that I do when I'm not starting and possibly coming off the bench."
Jones swung at the first pitch he saw.
He hit a solo home run to left-center field off Cabrera's first-pitch curveball at the bottom of the strike zone, boosting the Tigers' lead to 3-1. He sprinted out of the batter's box, then slowed down to enjoy it when the ball landed over the fence.
"I didn't want to let him get an early strike on me," Jones said. "I wanted to go up there, search for something I wanted to hit, and thankfully, it was the first pitch."
A SPECIAL NIGHT: No need to rise: Tigers prove 'the bar is high' with big win vs. Chicago Cubs
In the dugout, Vierling and Jones shared a moment together in celebration.
"I told you to get ready," Vierling said.
"My guy," Jones said.
The final score at Comerica Park on Friday wasn't anything out of the ordinary, as MLB's best team kept winning. The American League-leading Tigers defeated the National League-leading Cubs in what may have been a World Series preview.
But what happened to Jones in the eighth inning?
That was special.
"It's a full-circle moment," Jones said. "I'm just enjoying every moment."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of “Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!” by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jahmai Jones makes Detroit Tigers debut with Lions in heart
Continue reading...
Jahmai Jones — pinch-hitting in his Detroit Tigers debut — crushed a home run on the first pitch he saw from a left-handed reliever in the eighth inning Friday, June 6, at Comerica Park. His swing sent a sellout crowd of 40,132 fans into a frenzy.
It was a key insurance run in the Tigers' 3-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
"I walked up, and I was like, 'All right, I'm ready for the moment,'" said Jones, competing in the 70th game of his MLB career. "Whatever happened, happened — positive or negative. I felt like I was prepared. I could go to sleep with whatever the result was."
JEFF SEIDEL: Jahmai Jones overcame losing his Detroit Lion father to become a Detroit Tiger
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The big moment for Jones occurred at 9:11 p.m. in Detroit — a city close to his heart for family reasons. His father, Andre Jones, played six games for the Lions as a linebacker in 1992. His older brother, T.J. Jones, played 42 games for the Lions as a wide receiver from 2015-18.
His father died on June 22, 2011, after suffering a brain aneurysm.
He was 42 years old.
"Obviously, Detroit has a special place in my heart," said Jones, who turns 28 in two months, "just because of the family ties, so being able to do it myself and add to it, it's everything I could ask for."
Celebrate 125 epic seasons of the Tigers with our new book!
On Friday morning, Jones woke up in a hotel room in Columbus, Ohio, as a player for the Toledo Mud Hens. A call from the Tigers sent him scrambling — maybe even leaving some clothes behind — but he packed the essentials: wallet, phone, keys, baseball gear. He got on the road at 11 a.m., leaving behind life in Triple-A. By 2:30 p.m., he was in the clubhouse with ace Tarik Skubal at Comerica Park, joining his fifth MLB team in five seasons.
"I didn't take a breath until I sat down in the car," Jones said.
It was his first time at Comerica Park since 2015, when the Tigers hosted him for a pre-draft workout. That year, the Tigers could've taken Jones with their No. 65 overall pick, but instead, they selected left-hander Tyler Alexander. Five picks later, the Los Angeles Angels drafted Jones, at No. 70 overall.
It was also his first time in Detroit since 2018, when his brother played his final season with the Lions. He noticed how the city has changed over the past seven years, though he didn't go into detail. These days, there's a championship-caliber buzz on either side of Brush Street, around both Comerica Park and Ford Field.
What did he think about the crowd in his Tigers debut?
"You tell me," Jones said. "There's 40,000 people out there. Packed house. That was amazing. I'm loving every bit of it so far. I can't complain."
THE GAME: Spencer Torkelson supports Tarik Skubal with home run in Tigers' 3-1 win over Cubs
You must be registered for see images
Before Friday's game, the Tigers promoted Jones to replace struggling Andy Ibáñez, who was optioned to Triple-A. Both players are right-handed hitters with a history of success against left-handed pitchers, allowing Jones to take over for Ibáñez in the platoon role — pinch-hitting against left-handed relievers, starting against left-handed starters.
The Tigers signed Jones to a minor league contract in November 2024, targeting him because he controls the strike zone, hits left-handed pitchers and defends himself against right-handed pitchers. He had several offers, but he chose the Tigers.
Nobody knows how long he'll stick.
But he's here now.
"I told myself I would put my head down and keep working, regardless of if it was a week, two weeks, a month, All-Star break, end of the season," said Jones, reflecting on not making the Tigers' Opening Day roster. "Thankfully, that happened in June rather than later, but regardless of when it was, I was going to be ready."
That's exactly what Jones told manager A.J. Hinch at the end of spring training, just days before Opening Day. He impressed in camp, but he was one of the final players cut.
Jones felt disappointed — but not defeated.
"I told him that when I was leaving," Jones said. "I said, 'Look, whenever you give me the call, I'll be ready to go.'"
In Triple-A Toledo, Jones hit .276 with six home runs, 24 walks and 46 strikeouts across 52 games, posting an .875 OPS. He hit both lefties and righties, and he played all three outfield positions.
He stayed on the Tigers' radar.
"He did everything imaginable in the spring to make this team," Hinch said. "We didn't configure the roster with him, and in typical Jahmai fashion, he didn't get bitter, he didn't get mad, and he didn't waste his time in the minor leagues."
You must be registered for see images attach
[ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER!Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ]
In Friday's game, Jones sat next to injured Matt Vierling in the dugout during the early innings, with Vierling sharing advice on when to prepare for a pinch-hit opportunity — a strategy Hinch implements more than most managers, especially as opposing teams deploy left-handed relievers against his lefty hitters.
"What should I expect?" Jones asked.
He wanted to know when Hinch would start making in-game moves. He usually started preparing around the sixth inning in years past with other teams.
"You should be ready earlier than that," Vierling said.
"What if we're up 6-0 or down 6-0?" Jones asked.
"He does not mind," Vierling said. "Be ready to go."
"Oh really," Jones said.
"You got to be ready," Vierling said.
By the fourth inning, thanks to Vierling's advice, Jones started his pinch-hit routine. By the eighth, Hinch called his number — to pinch-hit for Kerry Carpenter with one out against Cubs left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera.
He was prepared.
"There's a lot of looking over charts, looking at video, going to the cage, getting ready in the weight room," Jones said. "There's a whole routine that I do when I start, and there's a routine that I do when I'm not starting and possibly coming off the bench."
Jones swung at the first pitch he saw.
He hit a solo home run to left-center field off Cabrera's first-pitch curveball at the bottom of the strike zone, boosting the Tigers' lead to 3-1. He sprinted out of the batter's box, then slowed down to enjoy it when the ball landed over the fence.
"I didn't want to let him get an early strike on me," Jones said. "I wanted to go up there, search for something I wanted to hit, and thankfully, it was the first pitch."
A SPECIAL NIGHT: No need to rise: Tigers prove 'the bar is high' with big win vs. Chicago Cubs
In the dugout, Vierling and Jones shared a moment together in celebration.
"I told you to get ready," Vierling said.
"My guy," Jones said.
The final score at Comerica Park on Friday wasn't anything out of the ordinary, as MLB's best team kept winning. The American League-leading Tigers defeated the National League-leading Cubs in what may have been a World Series preview.
But what happened to Jones in the eighth inning?
That was special.
"It's a full-circle moment," Jones said. "I'm just enjoying every moment."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of “Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!” by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jahmai Jones makes Detroit Tigers debut with Lions in heart
Continue reading...
