CHICAGO – Bubba Jones stood and took off his baseball cap for the national anthem, his stomach churning with excitement.
His son, JaCoby Jones, was down on the field, a rookie who wasn’t even expected to be here. Not yet, at least.
But there he was, the Detroit Tigers starting centerfielder, playing in his first Opening Day game and providing a shot of excitement for this veteran lineup.
“Amazing,” Bubba Jones said, his smile beaming.
JaCoby Jones needed one at-bat on Tuesday to hit his first career home run, a three-run blast that ignited the Tigers to a 6-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox.