Chris Jones: A Collegiate Baseball Journey
Chris Jones has carved a notable path through the landscape of college baseball, showcasing his talents at multiple institutions and establishing himself as a significant contributor to his teams. His journey reflects dedication, versatility, and a consistent drive to excel on the diamond.
Early Years and High School Success
Prior to his collegiate career, Chris Jones starred under coach Calvin Cook in High School. As a senior, he earned First-Team All-State honors as a pitcher, adding to his Second-Team All-State recognition at pitcher as a junior. Jones played a crucial role in the team's success, winning the 2013 state championship and securing three consecutive playoff appearances during his sophomore, junior, and senior years.
University of the Incarnate Word
Jones's college career began at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he played for two years under coach Danny Heep. This initial experience provided him with a foundation in collegiate baseball, setting the stage for his subsequent achievements.
Oklahoma Christian University (2025)
In his senior year (2025), Jones played for Oklahoma Christian University, where he started a team-high nine contests on the mound, accumulating 58.2 innings pitched. Despite facing challenges, he maintained the third-best ERA on the team at 7.36, showcasing his resilience and ability to compete. Jones achieved a 5-4 pitching record, tying for the most wins by an OC pitcher since 2021. Notably, he recorded a season-high eight strikeouts in a season-opening victory against St. Mary's (Feb. 7) and replicated this performance in a win against Cameron (Apr. ).
Rutgers-Camden: A Storied Career
Chris Jones has had an outstanding collegiate baseball career at Rutgers-Camden, steadily climbing the program's all-time record ranks. Having started all 113 games he has played, Jones is on track to set the all-time program record for games played. Primarily a shortstop as a freshman and then a second baseman, Jones boasts a .348 career batting average, placing him among the program's top hitters. His 165 career hits rank seventh in program history, while his 97 career RBIs hold the fifth position. Additionally, he has accumulated 34 career doubles, tying for sixth in program history. Defensively, Jones has recorded 290 career assists, ranking fifth in program history.
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2018 Season Highlights
In 2018, Jones earned several accolades, including ABCA/Rawlings All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team and D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team honors. Serving as one of the team's captains, he started all 43 games as a second baseman. Jones led the team with 177 at bats and produced a .350 batting average. He also contributed 62 hits, 42 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 12 doubles, and 84 total bases. Defensively, he tied for the team lead with 21 double plays and recorded 108 assists. His performance in 2018 placed him among Rutgers-Camden's single-season record holders in multiple categories. Notably, he tied the program's single-game record with 10 assists against Kean University (April 26).
2017 Season Highlights
During the 2017 season, Jones started all 38 games at second base. He led the team with a .346 batting average, 162 at bats, 32 runs, 56 hits, 27 RBIs, 79 total bases, 14 doubles, and three triples. His performance earned him NJAC Academic Honorable Mention. Jones led the team with 20 multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games. He also had the longest hitting streak on the team at 11 games. Defensively, his 18 double plays led the team. His 104 assists ranked second on the team and tied for the 10th-highest single-season mark in program history.
Personal Information
Chris Jones's parents are Carla and David Jones. He has two siblings, Casey and Lauren. Notably, he has three relatives who played college sports: Chans Chapman (University of Houston), Will Chapman (Texas A&M-Kingsville), and Steve Chapman (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor).
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