Todd Jones is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 24, 1968, in Marietta, Georgia, and attended high school in the same city. Jones was drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 1989 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1993.
Jones played for the Astros for four seasons before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1997. He spent three seasons with the Tigers and was named the team's closer in 1998. Jones had a successful season, recording 34 saves and a 2.09 ERA. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2000 but struggled with the team, posting a 6.35 ERA in 33 appearances.
Jones signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2001 but was released before the start of the season. He then signed with the Minnesota Twins and had a solid season as a setup man, recording a 2.49 ERA in 68 appearances. Jones signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2002 and had another successful season, recording 28 saves and a 2.34 ERA.
Jones signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004 and had a career year, recording 24 saves and a 2.10 ERA. He was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his career. Jones signed with the Florida Marlins in 2005 and had another solid season, recording 40 saves and a 2.10 ERA. He was named to the National League All-Star team for the second time in his career.
Jones returned to the Tigers in 2006 and had a successful season as the team's closer, recording 37 saves and a 3.94 ERA. He helped lead the Tigers to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. Jones played one more season with the Tigers in 2007 before retiring after the 2008 season.
Throughout his career, Jones was known for his durability and consistency. He recorded 319 saves and a 3.97 ERA in 982 career appearances. He was also known for his work ethic and leadership, serving as a mentor to many young pitchers throughout his career.
After retiring from baseball, Jones worked as a television analyst for the Tigers and also served as a special assistant to the team's general manager. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
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