He's always loved being an Oriole and now Adam Jones will be that in a different role

When former Oriole star Adam Jones was officially hired by the club this week as special advisor to the general manager and a community ambassador, I felt the O’s made a great move.

Because of love and passion.

Jones has a deep love for this organization and a real passion about Orioles baseball. He’s always had it since they acquired him in a trade with the Mariners and that love and passion for the Orioles has never waned.

Few would work harder for the Orioles to be winners, and few would take more pride in any successes they have.

Adam really, really loves the Orioles.

If they asked him to pitch batting practice, he’d do it. Need someone to drive the team bus, he’d probably volunteer for the duty.

“I just want to be a resource,” Jones noted via his X account. Well he’s going to be that and so much more.

When it comes to the Orioles and winning, Jones always had a lot of what former skipper Buck Showalter would call “want to.” When he first became an Oriole for the 2008 season, he wanted to be a great player, he wanted to be a great leader, he wanted to be big in the community. He wanted to win.

With Jones helping lead the way, the 2012-2016 Orioles made three playoff appearances and led the AL in wins in that span. But they never got a World Series title. Maybe No 10 will help them to that in his new role.

The “want to” will clearly be there.

“Adam is just a great resource for us, great representative of this franchise and has had so much experience in Major League Baseball and also international baseball for us to draw on," said O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias yesterday during a video press conference. "I’m looking forward to working with him even more closely now. He will be in spring training, so we’ll be seeing him soon, and I’m really happy that all of you and all of us will be seeing Adam more around the organization in this new role.”

Said Jones: "I’ve had obviously an affinity for Orioles baseball. Winning in the AL East has been something that’s permeated through my blood. You know me. You know I love the game, I love being around it, and I think this is a terrific opportunity for me to stop giving my thoughts to the world and just give my thoughts to Mike and the organization. And also on the other side, to continue what I started with the community relations and community work that my wife and I have started over the years. So, I think this is a good opportunity collective for us all and I’m just thrilled for this opportunity.

“It’s been a long time coming, and just ecstatic about this opportunity.”

When Jones was a young Oriole at age 22 during that 2008 season, Showalter told me he asked Jones if he wanted to be a clubhouse leader and Jones said yes, absolutely.

So the skipper told him he needed to play that way. All out, all the time, you need to run out every ground ball, he told Jones. Jones did just that.

Jones made a seamless transition to retirement after playing in Japan in 2020 and 2021. Now he's ready to pass on some knowledge and help the O's organization and maybe really benefit some of its youngest players.

“I couldn't compete with these 22-year-olds anymore and there was no point in trying. I had my run. Now, it's their turn. Now, it's my turn to give my knowledge, my assistance, in any way, shape or form I can, to these young kids. Sometimes, you’ve got to be constructive criticism with them. Sometimes, you’ve got to pull them down from the mountains. But baseball is a very, very tough sport. I was fortunate enough to play it for so long that I have a lot of knowledge and how to navigate a career. So hopefully, I can just give back. And that's really my whole mission is to give back.”

Jones and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., now part of the O’s ownership group, share that want to and desire. They are great additions, and both would do anything to help the Orioles win.

Their love of the team and town are deep, and they have the kind of passion for this club that can’t be duplicated by all former players. It's great to see the team join forces again with Jones.