Detroit Tigers: JaCoby Jones needs to stay healthy in 2021

The Detroit Tigers have a crowded outfield, and JaCoby Jones is one of the players who is pretty much solidified into a starting role for 2021. Jones is going to be the everyday centerfielder for this organization.

The past few seasons have not been kind to Jones; hopefully, the narrative changes in 2021. Jones needs to stay healthy, which has not been something that has worked in his favor lately. The Detroit Tigers are counting on him to be the everyday centerfielder.

Getting hit by pitches is something that JaCoby Jones is no stranger to; it has been caused him to miss time in each of the past two seasons. Last year in 2020, Jones sustained a fractured hand after getting plunked in the hand against the Kansas City Royals.

In the last “full-season” in 2019, Jones was hit by a pitch that also led to him needing surgery. Jones would go on to miss the full season, once again seeing injuries take over his season and leave him on the sidelines.

The Detroit Tigers need to see JaCoby Jones stay healthy during the 2021 season.

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When it comes to his injuries, Jones has not been entirely at fault. So when the claim of needing to stay healthy is mentioned, it’s moreover referring to Jones’ luck.

Jones can be a productive part of this lineup on a daily basis in 2021; his stats have been good, injuries have just been unkind for him.

In 2020, Jones logged 30 games where he hit .268/.333/.515 with five home runs and 14 RBI for the Tigers as the starting centerfielder. But the year before that, his season was also cut short, and he did not cross the 100 games threshold.

Before going to the Injured List (IL) in 2019, Jones played in 88 games, where he hit .235/.310/.430 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI.

Jones has had been a solid everyday centerfielder for the Tigers, and the hope should be that he can stay healthy in 2021.

With the Tigers having a much more crowded outfield, Jones will be able to get off days where Victor Reyes can slot in or even Akil Baddoo if he settles in as a true big leaguer during the 2021 season.

Jones will be the true starter; he just needs to be luckier in 2021 and avoid injury. If he can stay healthy, the Tigers’ outfield situation will be much better off in 2021. The last two seasons have led to unfavorable results for Jones; the hope is that 2021 is different and he can avoid injury.

While the phrase “any way on” might be commonplace for most ballplayers, maybe Jones needs to avoid getting hit if he is going to risk having his season ended early on again in 2021.