Background
Right-handed hitting JaCoby Jones was an integral part of three state championships at Richton (Miss.) High School. He was named the Mississippi Player of the Year in 2010. The Houston Astros selected him in the 19th round of the 2010 Draft. He chose not to sign and ultimately wound up at Louisiana State University, where he was the team's starting second baseman for three seasons.
His competitive drive and ambition led to the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jones in the third round of the 2013 Draft. He was drafted as an outfielder, a position he played only briefly in college for the LSU Tigers, and the Pirates converted him to shortstop.