ROME – Chipper Jones didn't want to make a rehabilitation start before he returned from knee surgery.
He made two nonetheless.
Jones concluded a pair of weekend games at Class-A Rome Sunday. The all-star third baseman declared the assignment a success and himself fit for a return to the Braves lineup Monday.
“I’ll be waiting on them when they come back,” Jones said of his teammates who concluded a road trip in Cincinnati Sunday night. The Braves open a seven-game homestand Monday against Pittsburgh.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Sunday afternoon he saw no reason why Jones wouldn't be ready to be activated Monday night, but they'll have their trainers evaluate him just to be sure.
Jones went 1-for-1 with a walk and RBI sacrifice fly while playing third base for five innings Sunday. He had the game-winning RBI in a 2-0 Rome victory over Kannapolis. He went 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and hit into a fielder’s choice as a designated hitter Saturday. “Hey, I’m hitting .333 in the South Atlantic League,” Jones said with a smile.
Jones was eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on July 9 for a torn meniscus. He missed his 12th game Sunday.
“Nobody knows my body like me,” Jones said. “The last time I did this surgery I was out 16 days. Tomorrow will be 16 days. I actually played two rehab games (this time). Last time I didn’t play any.
“I know my body and what I could do just from working out up at Gwinnett [for three days prior to his rehab starts]. I have no limitations.”
The return of Jones could be significant down the stretch. Upon his return, the Braves will have their regular lineup for the first time since Jason Heyward was injured on May 20. Regulars Heyward (shoulder) and Martin Prado (calf) missed time before Jones required surgery. Jones tried to put off surgery with cortisone injections, but finally ceded to the procedure just before the all-star game, where he was selected as a reserve.
“You want to have your guys that you are going to do battle with in October,” Jones said. “If you are going to get the injury bug you would rather it be in the first half right around the all-star break. Then you can gel during the second half and be ready for the stretch run.”
Jones lined a 1-1 pitch to left field in his first at-bat Sunday. He was doubled off first base on a line drive out to the second baseman. He walked in the third inning. In his final at-bat, in the fifth inning, Jones got the crowd of 2,244 on its feet when he hit a long fly ball to the warning track in right field to score the game’s first run. He successfully handled his one chance in the field.
Jones batted right-handed on Sunday and left-handed on Saturday.
“It was good to get out there and play defense,” Jones said. “I hated DHing last night. It was hard to do. I was in the flow of the game today. I had a lot better at-bats. I got everything accomplished that I wanted to get accomplished -- play defense, hit lefty, hit righty, run the bases a little bit. I’m ready.”
Jones said he was “put through the rigors” during three workouts at Triple-A Gwinnett before the weekend.
“I took ground balls at full speed, side-to-side, both ways, throwing across the infield,” Jones said. “The only thing you can’t simulate [is] the speed.”
Jones estimated he took about 40-50 ground balls before Sunday’s game as a final test.
“I don’t know what more I can do to prove I’m ready to go,” Jones said. “I know everyone is kind of skeptical. I have no limitations.”
Staff writer Carroll Rogers contributed.
