Thanks for the Memories: Part Three

Following his senior season at Bolles, Chipper Jones was selected with the first overall pick in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Regarding that selection, Jones said “That was a day I will never forget, and one which marked the accomplishment of a personal goal for me. What an incredible honor. To be chosen as the first player in the nation to play the game that I love was a dream come true for me. Bobby Cox was the General Manager at the time, and I suppose I owe him a heartfelt ‘thanks’ for making me a Brave that day.”

After the draft, Chipper Jones and the Braves agreed on a contract worth approximately $400,000. The contract included $68,000 worth of college education, incentives for each level of professional baseball reached, a life insurance annuity, and a $275,000 signing bonus.

Following the contract negotiations and signing, Chipper Jones was assigned to the rookie level GCL Braves of the Gulf Coast League in Bradenton, Florida. Over the course of 44 games with the GCL Braves, Chipper Jones amassed 164 plate appearances and registered 140 official at-bats. Jones scored 20 runs on 32 base hits, one double, one triple, and one home run. He also had 18 runs batted in. Jones stole eight bases. He drew 14 walks. Jones had a batting average of .229, an on base percentage of .321, and a slugging percentage of .271. He amassed 38 total bases and was intentionally walked one time. Also featured on the 1990 GCL Braves roster were future Major League players Joe Ayrault, Mark Lemke, and Mike Potts. The 1990 GCL Braves finished with a record of 33-26.

For the 1991 season, Chipper Jones was assigned to the Class A Macon Braves of the South Atlantic League in Macon, Georgia. Over the course of 136 games with the Macon Braves, Chipper Jones amassed 556 plate appearances and registered 473 official at-bats. Jones scored 104 runs on 154 base hits, 24 doubles, 11 triples, and 15 home runs. He also had 98 runs batted in. Jones stole 40 bases. He drew 69 walks. Jones had a batting average of .326, an on base percentage of .407, and a slugging percentage of .518. He amassed 245 total bases and was intentionally walked four times. Also featured on the 1991 Macon Braves roster were future Major League players Tyler Houston, David Justice, Kevin Lomon, Mike Potts, Joe Roa, and Pete Smith. The 1991 Macon Braves finished with a record of 83-58.

For the 1992 season, Chipper Jones was assigned to the Advanced A Durham Bulls of the Carolina League in Durham, North Carolina and was later promoted to the AA Greenville Braves of the Southern League in Greenville, South Carolina. Over the course of 70 games with the Durham Bulls, Chipper Jones amassed 301 plate appearances and registered 264 official at-bats. Jones scored 43 runs on 73 base hits, 22 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs. He also had 31 runs batted in. Jones stole 10 bases. He drew 31 walks. Jones had a batting average of .277, an on base percentage of .353, and a slugging percentage of .414. He amassed 109 total bases and was intentionally walked one time. Also featured on the 1992 Durham Bulls roster were future Major League players Tyler Houston, Brian Kowitz, Melvin Nieves, Kevin Lomon, Mike Potts, Carlos Reyes, and Brad Woodall. The 1992 Durham Bulls finished with a record of 70-70. Over the course of 67 games with the Greenville Braves, Chipper Jones amassed 285 plate appearances and registered 266 official at-bats. Jones scored 43 runs on 92 hits, 17 doubles, 11 triples, and 9 home runs. He also had 42 runs batted in. Jones stole 14 bases. He drew 11 walks. Jones had a batting average of .346, an on base percentage of .367, and a slugging percentage of .594. He amassed 158 total bases and was intentionally walked one time. Also featured on the 1992 Greenville Braves roster were future Major League players Brian Bark, Mike Bell, Pedro Borbon, Ramon Caraballo, Kevin Coffman, Donnie Eliott, Ed Giovanola, Pat Gomez, Mike Kelly, Brian Kowitz, Javy Lopez, Greg McMichael, Nate Minchey, Mike Mordecai, Melvin Nieves, Eddie Perez, Tony Tarasco, Scott Taylor, Jeff Treadway, and Brad Woodall. The 1992 Greenville Braves finished with a record of 100-43 and won the Southern League championship.