 Jones attended the University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball for the Highlanders from 1982–1983.Jones was drafted by the Mariners as the 1st pick in the 1st round of the 1984 MLB draft.Jones played his first professional season with their Class A (Short Season) Bellingham Mariners in 1984, and his last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes in 1996.