ROCKIES SELECT JONES IN MLB DRAFT

Jones was the MEAC Player of the Year in 2005

GREENSBORO, N.C., June 7, 2006 – A wrist injury forced North Carolina A&T junior outfielder Jeremy Jones to miss most of the 2006 season. Yet, his body of work over his first two seasons at N.C. A&T were impressive enough for the Colorado Rockies to select him in the 25^th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. He was the 738^th pick overall.

 Jones (6-foot, 195 pounds) was following the draft online when he received a call from a Rockies scout telling him to look for his name in the next few minutes. Approximately 15 minutes before 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Jones saw his name flash across his computer screen.

 “Everyone dreams of playing professionally,” said Jones. “But to actually have an opportunity to play professional baseball is a remarkable feeling because you know all the hard work you put in…those cold winters when you’re there swinging the bat all paid off.”

 Jones, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., becomes the sixth player during head coach Keith Shumate’s 10-year stint at N.C. A&T to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team. He will become the seventh Shumate player to sign a MLB contract. Duron LaGrande was the last Aggies baseball player selected in the draft. The Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) selected him in the 10^th round of the 2004 draft.

 “We are extremely happy for Jeremy and his family,’’ said Shumate. “Jeremy being drafted is a testament to his hard work. I know without a doubt he will represent A&T well because he will make the most of his opportunity. It says a lot about what the Rockies think of his ability, considering they drafted him even though he essentially didn’t play this season.”

 Before the start of the 2006 season, Jones was added to the Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year watch list. The National College Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball named Jones a preseason third-team All-American. But Jones had only two official at-bats in 2006 after injuring his wrist while taking batting practice.

 He was trying to follow up a 2005 season in which he earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, batted .402, broke at the time the school record for hits in a season (82), led the Aggies to the MEAC Championship and helped the school earn its first-ever bid to the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

  “I wish I could have been out there helping my teammates this year,’’ said Jones. “It was just one of those unfortunate things that happen. I feel great now and I’m anxious to get out there and start hitting and throwing.”

 Jones ends his career at N.C. A&T with a career .368 batting average, a .528 slugging percentage, 73 RBI, nine home runs, 28 doubles in 104 games played. The Rockies have Class A minor league affiliates in Asheville, N.C. (Asheville Tourists), Modesto, Calif. (Modesto Nuts) and Pasco, Wash. (Tri-City Dust Devils). Their rookie affiliate is in Casper, Wyo. They are called the Casper Rockies.