'I'm just so proud of him': Rangers prospect slugs grand slam with dad on broadcast
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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.
¡°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.
¡°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.