Andruw Jones was pleased to be back at Turner Field for FanFest on Saturday, and the longtime former Braves center fielder might consider returning to the organization someday in a coaching or instructor’s role.
Jones, 38, said he likely would announce soon that he’s done playing, after initially hoping to catch on with a major league team for one final season following a two-year stint playing in Japan. He was hurt and didn’t play in 2015.
“I’ll probably soon retire,” said Jones, who has maintained his permanent residence in Atlanta. “I can be at home with my kid, teach him a couple of things. I haven’t announced it yet, but I probably will.”
The former splending-fielding slugger drew one of the biggest autograph lines at FanFest and was greeted warmly by Braves fans.
“It’s always fun to come back to the stadium,” said Jones, who had been to Turner Field only a few times since ending his 12-year, 10-Golden Glove run with the Braves after the 2007 season. “So many memories. Great years, tough years. It’s always good to come back.”
Until playing in a Braves alumni softball game last summer at Turner Field, Jones had been to the ballpark only for a series with the Dodgers in 2008 and another with the Yankees in 2012.
He has played only four games in Atlanta since his last season with the Braves in 2007, when he hit 26 homers – his 10th consecutive season with 25 or more, including a career-best 51 in 2005, when he led the National League in homers and RBIs (128).
“It’s always fun (coming back),” he said. “Last year we had that softball event; I had a blast here. It was just good to be back on the field here in Atlanta and see all the fans and be part of it. It’s always good. I love Atlanta; I still live here. Hopefully something will work out in the career (going forward).”
Jones, who would seem a likely candidate to be the next Brave inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. He hit .254 with 434 home runs, 1,289 RBIs and an .823 OPS in a 17-year major league career, including .263 with 368 home runs in 12 seasons with the Braves.
Asked about what’s next and possibly working for the Braves or another team, he said, “We’ll see what happens. We’ve had a couple of discussions with Scott (Boras, his agent) to see what’s going on. I’d love to share my knowledge and experience of playing the game for a long time with some of these young kids.”
Possibly with the Braves?
“Like I say, I would love to be part of it,” he said. “We just have to sit down and see what’s out there and what the role will be, and we’ll go from there. Like I said, I would like to be part of an organization and help the up-and-coming kids, share my knowledge as a baseball player, as a defender, and as a hitter, too.”
