Prospect Profile: Beau Jones

Name: Beau Jones
Age: 20
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195
Bats: L
Throws: L

History:
Beau Jones was selected in the first round of 2005's draft (41st overall) out of high school. Beau spent 2005 in the Gulf Coast League in order to get acclimated with life in professional baseball. He did pretty well going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA. His walk rate was a little high at 4.11/9 but his strikeout rate was high as well, 10.54. A low hit rate allowed him to keep his WHIP low at 1.17. The Braves took it easy with Beau in his first year with him being an 18 year-old who just graduated from high school.

2006:
Beau Jones spent the entire 2006 season in Rome with somewhat alarming results. He finished with a 5.61 ERA and 1.88 WHIP. He also struck out 101 batters but he walked an incredible 83. He still has a lot of potential and hard throwing lefties who strike guys out are valuable but he needs to show some improvement. He is still only 20 so he has plenty of time to do so.

Projected:
Beau is still very early in his career, but based on his early results, I see him as being a middle to back of the rotation starter. If he wants to climb any higher than that, he must decrease his WHIP. His strikeouts are pretty good this year at 53 in 55 innings so he does have potential. However, he has a lot of improving to do. And as I said earlier, he has plenty of time to improve and Atlanta has no plans of rushing him so I think his future is pretty bright.

Year	Team	Level	G	W	L	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2006	Rome	A	25	5	5	110.2	125	79	69	8	83	101	5.61	1.88