One Mariners prospect that I have not mentioned once this year is High Desert outfielder James Jones. That's because Jones annually waits until July before he starts hitting. Jones actually started to hit well in May of this year and has been on a seriously hot (because its in the desert) run ever since.
I guess I first noticed him today because he was especially good last night despite only recording one hit. Jones went 1-for-1 with a double, three walks, and three stolen bases in the Mavericks 4-0 win over Lake Elsinore. He's hitting .342/.458/.605 with 5 stolen bases in his last ten games and hitting .326/.424/.549 with 14 stolen bases in 35 games since the All-Star Break. Jones is definitely having his best season since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft, but he's also repeating the level and the California League is a hitter's paradise.
For Jones, 23, to have any real chance of being a real prospect to watch, he's going to have to hit well at Jackson and skip his regular early-season struggles.
Jones is hitting .305/.381/.507 this year after hitting .247/.347/.378 at the same level last year.