Should Andruw Jones be in the Hall of Fame? Rating Braves legend's Cooperstown prospects after jersey retirement

The Atlanta Braves recently retired Andruw Jones' number 25 jersey, making him the 11th Braves player in history to receive this honor. The Braves will hold a pregame celebration for Jones on September 9th, 2023, before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite this honor, Jones is yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After six years on the ballot, Jones still hasn't been elected. Despite receiving 41.1% of the votes in 2022, he remains far from the 75% required for induction. Jones was a special player with a unique skill set that included exceptional defense, speed, and power.

Making the case for Andruw Jones’ HoF induction

Jones is best known for his defense and is considered by many to be the greatest defensive center fielder of all time. Jones won 10 Gold Glove Awards from 1998 to 2007, which is the third-longest streak in history.

Andruw Jones ended his career with the Rangers, Yankees and White Sox.

His range, first-step quickness, angles, and jumps were unmatched. He also had a strong arm and a high baseball IQ. He was known for making incredible game-saving catches and taking hits away from the opposing team.

According to Baseball Reference, Andruw Jones has the highest career Defensive Wins Above Replacement (24.4) among outfielders, and he ranks second in MLB history, which is a testament to his exceptional defense.

Andruw Jones was also an excellent offensive player. He hit 434 home runs in his career and was a five-time All-Star. From 1998 to 2007, he ranked third in WAR, just behind Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. Despite his low batting average of .254, his on-base percentage was .337, which is the same as Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.

Andruw Jones is considered by many to be the greatest deffense center fielder of all time - Via Atlanta Braves

Jones played a significant role in the Braves' success throughout his career. His team won their division ten times from 1996 to 2005. His contributions, both on offense and defense, were integral to the Braves' success.

Many baseball experts believe that Jones should be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Frank Robinson called Jones one of the two best center fielders he had ever seen, alongside Willie Mays. Jones' former GM, John Schuerholz, also believes that he should be inducted into Cooperstown.

While some voters may be hesitant to vote for Jones due to his late-career struggles, he had a dominant 10-year stretch where he was one of the best players in the game. Jones' defensive abilities alone should be enough to warrant induction into the Hall of Fame.

With the Braves set to retire Andruw Jones’ number this week, the conversation of whether he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame has been renewed. For many, he deserves the honor. His exceptional defense, power, and speed, combined with his role in the Braves' success, make him a worthy candidate.