Jahmai Jones is batting leadoff as designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park, a role interim manager Chad Tracy has been building toward since acquiring him from Detroit last month.
Jones was originally slotted in as Boston's leadoff DH on August 17 before left hip tightness scratched him from that day's lineup, and Sunday's placement signals the Red Sox believe the issue is behind him heading into the stretch run.
Jones leads off Sunday's lineup, with Ceddanne Rafaela , Wilyer Abreu , Willson Contreras , Caleb Durbin , Nick Sogard , Andruw Monasterio , Eli White and Connor Wong rounding out the order behind him. Jake Bennett gets the ball for Boston.
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Since arriving in Boston, Jones has been arguably the club's most productive hitter in a part-time role. Over his last 15 games he's gone 11-for-23 with four doubles and two homers , a .478 average with six RBIs and three stolen bases, production that explains why the hip scare rattled the coaching staff.
On the August 17 scratch, Tracy said, "Had it yesterday, too. Much better today, which is good. He was able to do some activity, but there's still a little bit of end range in his swing, that he's just at a place where he's worried about like, fully turning the swing fully loose," according to the Boston Herald . Tracy indicated Jones would likely be ready within a day or two, and the leadoff nod against San Francisco suggests that timeline held.
Jones' surge in Boston stands in sharp contrast to the season he was having before the trade. He posted a .137 average with two home runs and seven RBIs in 57 games for Detroit, numbers that led the Tigers to designate him for assignment on July 9.
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Boston swung an All-Star break deal with Detroit on July 14, sending a player to be named later, later identified as left-handed pitching prospect Jojo Ingrassia, to bring Jones aboard, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne. The Red Sox optioned outfielder Nate Eaton to Triple-A Worcester to clear his roster spot.
"Yeah, I actually know Jam, had him with the Angels , so obviously numbers this year aren't what they were last year. But there's been a couple years where he's had a high level of success versus left-handed pitching. So to be able to get him, see if we can get him back on track and use him to take down some at-bats versus lefties," Tracy said, according to MLB.com .
Jahmai Fitzgerald Jones was born August 4, 1997, in Roswell, Georgia, and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the second round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Wesleyan School. He debuted with the Angels in 2020 and has since played for the Orioles , Brewers , Yankees and Tigers before landing in Boston, never quite sticking as an everyday player despite stretches of real production, including a .287 average with seven home runs over 72 games during Detroit's 2025 playoff run.
For now, the right-handed-hitting Jones is Boston's answer against left-handed pitching, and Sunday's leadoff assignment against San Francisco marks the clearest vote of confidence yet from Tracy's dugout.
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