The Top 5 Moments of Jacque Jones' Career

If you'd like to see Jones, along with Twins president Dave St. Peter and former player Tim Laudner, answering questions from John Bonnes and Aaron Gleeman, there are still a few tickets available for the big party this Saturday.

In honor of Jones' return to Twins Territory, we thought we'd run through five of the most memorable moments of his career.

5. Drafted by the Twins in 1996

After a very successful college career at the University of Southern California, Jones was taken by the Twins in the second round of the '96 draft, with the 37th overall pick. Since first-rounder Travis Lee never actually signed, Jones was the highest selection to join the organization in that draft and he made good, cruising through the minors in three years and debuting in the majors at age 24.

4. Arm and hammer: Jones doubles off Spivey

Though he came up through the minors as a center fielder, Jones was pushed away from that position in the big leagues by the presence of Torii Hunter, moving first to left and eventually to right. In the corners, Jones' high-end athleticism made him a real defensive asset, and he displayed all his tools on this play in a 2005 game against the Brewers.

Watch as Jones sprints backwards to haul in a fly ball, then springs off the Metrodome baggy and delivers a laser beam from the warning track to Justin Morneau at first base, doubling off Junior Spivey.

http://m.mlb.com/video/v37114801

3. A rocket against "The Rocket"

Jones hit 165 home runs in his decade-year career, and although most of those came in a Twins uniform, the most prodigious might have come during his brief stint with the Cubs.

In a 2006 game against Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros, Jones launched a home run over the center field wall at Minute Maid Park that was estimated to have traveled over 440 feet. This was in the same season that Clemens posted a career-low 1.87 ERA, and the majestic shot off Jones' bat was one of only 11 homers surrendered by Clemens in 32 starts.

2. A farewell in Minnesota

He was very good in his prime, but unfortunately Jones saw his production tail off rather abruptly after he left the Twins. He enjoyed a couple of solid seasons in Chicago, then made brief appearances with the Marlins and Tigers, but he was done as a big-leaguer at age 33.

In 2010, he returned to Minnesota on a minor-league deal, and while he didn't get back to the majors, he did get the opportunity to play at brand-new Target Field when the Twins faced the St. Louis Cardinals in a pair of exhibition games in early April.

Jones was greeted by fans with a standing ovation. He retired a few months later, in June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2JVY7ll64

1. "Contract This": The 2002 season-opening homer.

When I think about Jones, this is always the first memory that comes to mind. In the offseason preceding the 2002 season, just as I was really beginning to grow into a Twins diehard, rumors had swirled that the club might be contracted. Like many other fans -- not to mention players and employees -- I was nervous that Bud Selig and Major League Baseball would simply erase the team I loved from existence.

On Opening Day in '02, the Twins faced the Royals in Kansas City, and on the second pitch of the game from Jeff Suppan, Jones launched a home run into the Kauffman Stadium fountains.

It was the first of two homers in the game for Jones, kicking off what would be the best season of his career, as he'd go on to hit 27 bombs with a .300 batting average and .852 OPS. It was emblematic of what Jones brought to the table as a leadoff hitter -- the ability to put his team ahead 1-0 in the first at-bat, in any game.

But more than any of that, it was an emphatic statement that the Minnesota Twins weren't going anywhere. They went on to win 94 games on the way to a division title and a trip to the American League Championship Series. That September, an issue of ESPN Magazine, with a cover featuring Jones and three of his teammates, dubbed Minnesota "The Team That Saved Baseball."

If you'd like to hear Jones discuss these moments, and many others, make sure to grab your ticket for this Saturday's event!