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OAKLAND – In the seventh round Friday night, Dereck Rodriguez, 26, gave way to 25-year-old Reyes Moronta. Rodriguez ran to the canoe and sat next to Andrew Suarez, 25, and the two rookies watched Moronta strand a runner. A few minutes later, Steven Duggar, a 24-year-old center fielder, headed for the plate and chained a simple right.
There is a youth movement in San Francisco, but you may already know it. Rodriguez, Suarez and Moronta were a big part of the story of the first half and Duggar made waves over the last week.
What you may not have realized, is that another player in the middle of all the action on Friday night is actually younger than the four. Ryder Jones had 150 big league battles last season and has not been seen since, and it is often easy to dismiss a player when he disappears for a stretch. But Jones, a former second-round pick, is still only 24 years old. He was born seven months after Duggar, who was previously the youngest player in the lineup.
Jones still has a lot of time to find his stride and keep the promise he's made sometimes. Friday, there was another flash of this talent. Jones hit a long solo circuit in the fifth, giving the Giants a lead that they would never let go. With a 5-1 victory over the A, the Giants started their second half and tied the Bay Bridge series with two games each.
Jones has probably returned to Sacramento. The plan was for him to come one day to fill while Brandon Belt attended the birth of his second son, and he certainly took advantage of the opportunity.
"I thought the homer was huge for him," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It was huge for us – he did a good job there in Sacramento last month – he's doing what we were hoping for this year, having another great year." That's all he's got need, these are the bats and the experience.It has the tools to be a good big league player. "
Jones hit in his first at-bat, but took the lead in the account 2-0 next time. Edwin Jackson tried sliding a slider inside the plate and Jones crushed it. Both players leaned – in different directions – and watched the ball snap high from the pole.
The Giants relied heavily on rookies this year, but Jones was part of a class of 2017 that never found a foothold. Almost all players in this group were injured, and most struggled in the majors. Jones beat .173 last year, hitting in a third of his at-bats. With Evan Longoria brought back and Pablo Sandoval locked up, Jones did not have a lot of time this spring. He chose to play Scottsdale, hoping to increase his versatility, but he was mostly third baseman in Sacramento. At the time of this latest promotion, Jones was beating .299 in Triple-A, with nine homers, 15 doubles and 48 RBIs.
He will be heading to a team from River Cats who has provided a lot of help. Rodriguez started the season there. Friday, he allowed a point on 6 1/3 innings, lowering his MPM to 2.72.
"I trust my business, I trust my business," Rodriguez said. "I just wanted to pursue them."
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