Jones in June

(Photo by Andrew Markowitz Photography)

Adam Jones has an eight-game hitting streak right now and is hitting .424 (14-for-33) over that stretch with four homers, nine RBIs and nine runs scored.

Jones doubled to drive in a run as part of the Orioles three-run fifth, but if you dig deeper into the stats it appears Jones has been markedly better this month.

He is batting .315 (29-for-92) in 24 June games, with seven homers and 18 RBIs. He had five homers and 15 RBIs combined in his first 50 games this season.

I asked him yesterday after he hit a solo homer to start the Orioles’ five-run rally, what the difference is. Is he being more patient? Not pressing as much?

“I’m just hitting, really,” Jones said.  “I’m not trying to think a lot. I’m just going up there and putting a good swing on the ball. I’m still going to swing hard, people ask why I swing hard, that’s just the way I play. I’m just trying to drive the ball rather than just put the ball in play.”

So far, so good. Jones has raised his average from a season-low .203 up to .271 and is starting to show why he was such a highly regarded young talent.

It’ll be interesting to see if he can continue to consistently put up good ABs heading into the All-Star break. While I don’t think a late-surge is enough to warrant him going to the ASG, I do know that he’s well-thought of around the league and –outside of maybe Nick Markakis — has the most name recognition for the Orioles.