The suspension of the 2020 MLB season has offered many injured players the chance to return home and heal up before baseball returns. Unfortunately for Texas Rangers pitcher James Jones, a return home led to a season-ending injury after an unusual accident in his home.
According to The Dallas Morning News’ TR Sullivan, Jones tore the patella tendon in his right knee on Monday after he tripped and fell over one of his son’s toys.
Jones, who began his baseball career as an outfielder, has spent much of his career in the minors. The 31-year-old joined the Rangers organization in 2015 and remained an outfielder until moving to the mound in 2016.
He spent the 2019 season between the Double-A and Triple-A level, throwing 64 innings across 45 appearances. Jones posted a 2.67 ERA and .196 batting average allowed between both levels and took part in spring training with the team before the season was suspended.
Jones will miss the entire 2020 season and likely won’t make a full recovery until 2021. While he wasn’t expected to make the team’s Opening Day roster, this will be a hit for the team’s pitching depth.