Keith Jones Sr. knew it was gone off the bat.
He’s seen his son -- Keith Jones II -- club plenty of home runs throughout his career, and as soon as he made contact with this one, Jones Sr. was ecstatic.
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“That’s outta here! That’s outta here!” the elder Jones exclaimed on High-A Hub City's broadcast on Saturday night.
Jones II couldn’t have picked a better time to launch the Spartanburgers' first grand slam in club history, doing so during his father’s interview with the crew in the bottom of the third inning. The jack put Hub City up 9-5 in the third, and the club went on to win a high-scoring affair, 16-8, at Fifth Third Park.
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“Man, that was fabulous,” Keith Sr. told MLB.com postgame. “I really can’t put it into words. I felt it in my heart that he was gonna do something special, and when he actually did it man, I was at a loss of words. I’m just so proud of the hard work that he puts in, and he prepares for moments like that. … You can never understand the magnitude of that moment until that moment happens.
“That was a big moment for me and him, cause he knows I’ve been with his travels through this baseball thing ... and I’m just so proud of him, man.”
Jones II couldn’t thank his dad enough for the role he’s served in his life.
“He’s my rock,” he said. “He’s been here the whole time. He’s never lost confidence in me. He’s been there on the bad days. He’s been there when I’m not playing. He’s been there when I am playing, and he’s even-keeled the whole time. He’s always had my back, he ensures that I’m in the positions I need to be in. He’s my rock.”
Jones II, who was selected in the ninth round by the Rangers in the 2024 Draft, is hitting .278 in his first pro season, with 15 hits, 12 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. He has a .443 OBP, .887 OPS and two homers.
He knows a thing or two about big hits, having notched 17 long balls during a monster campaign with New Mexico State in 2024. But in terms of big moments, this grand slam may take the cake for him thus far in his career.