Following the conclusion of the 1993 Richmond Braves season, Chipper Jones was called up to Atlanta when Major League rosters expand from 25 to 40 players. On 11 September 1993, he made his Major League debut at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Jones entered the game prior to the bottom of the ninth inning with the Braves leading the San Diego Padres 13-1 as a defensive replacement for Jeff Blauser at shortstop. He did not register a plate appearance or official at-bat. Three days later, on September 14, Jones registered his first Major League base hit, a seventh inning pinch hit single off of Kevin Wickander in a 7-6 Braves win over the Cincinnati Reds. He was not included on the 1993 Atlanta Braves playoff roster.
Chipper Jones came to Spring Training in 1994 to compete for a position in the 1994 Atlanta Braves' starting lineup. However, plans changed on March 19. During an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, Jones hit a ground ball to short and hustled toward first base. The throw pulled first baseman Jim Leyritz off the bag, and Leyritz realized his only chance to get Jones out was to try and tag him. Jones attempted to evade the tag and immediately fell to the ground. The diagnosis of a torn ACL came the following day. The injury caused him to miss the 1994 season.
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