Taylor Jones

Injuries to Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley opened up a brief stretch of playing time for Jones in August. He made four consecutive starts from Aug. 19-22 and went 4-for-15 with a double and a homer during that span, only for the Astros to send him packing shortly thereafter. Jones is already 27, but he's established himself as a legitimate major-league prospect with strong showings at the upper levels of the minors in recent years, including a .291/.388/.501 line at Triple-A in 2019. A converted pitcher, Jones has shown a nice combination of offensive skills: patience, contact and a splash of power. The bar is high for a corner infielder in MLB and it's uncertain whether Jones can realistically clear that bar. He will need an opportunity for that question to be answered. Jones may not get it to begin 2021, but he will be near the top of the list of replacements at first base and DH.