A top Stanford baseball target, Jones aims to be two-sport athlete

Brock Jones of Buchanan High (Clovis, Calif.) is one of Stanford’s top 2019 baseball targets and he has his sights set on following the two-sport path of several recent Cardinal athletes.

Jones is the starting safety for the 4-0 Bears in his first season since transferring from Clovis North. He plans to play center fielder for the nationally ranked baseball program in the spring.

Stanford's new baseball coaches were barely settled into their offices when they made Jones a priority.

“The Stanford offer was a huge accomplishment of mine,” he said. “It has always been a dream to go to such an academically elite school that is good at football and baseball. That day was huge for my family and myself.”

Jones was the first recruit to visit Stanford since head coach Dave Esquer took over the program. Jones said he nearly committed to the Cardinal when he was swept up in the euphoria of earning an offer he’d wanted a long time.

He decided that waiting to be sure is better than having to de-commit later.

Part of the reason for the delay is he has many good choices for baseball. Since Stanford offered he has added Washington and Miami to his list.

Jones has also visited Oregon, Oregon State, San Jose State and hometown Fresno State for baseball. He also visited Stanford several times before he became a recruit.

Jones described his relationship with Stanford pitching coach and lead recruiter Thomas Eager: “I’m definitely close with Coach Eager. He’s phenomenal. He’s always texting and calling now that it’s past Sept. 1 of my junior year. He is always checking in not just with baseball but with family stuff and life. I really enjoy talking to him and getting to know him.”

Another significant factor in Jones’ decision is his desire to keep playing football.

“It’s a huge deal because I’ve always been a two-sport guy or a three-sport guy ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “Ever since I could walk I had a football in one hand and a baseball bat in the other. I love both sports.

"I love the quickness and physicality of football and the focus and mental part of baseball. Pretty much forever I have been football first. I want to play D-I football and just recently over the past three years I kind of switched (which sport I love) during the seasons.”

Jones does not have a Rivals.com profile and doesn’t report any football offers from Pac-12 schools, which is his preferred conference. After this football season and into the spring Jones hopes to have a better idea of his football options going forward.

“If only one of them works out, I’m going to work hard at it and go achieve my dream,” he said.