Former Falcon Amani Jones turns ‘one more shot’ into baseball heaven

Amani Jones stared at the online questionnaire. He hadn’t submitted any answers, thinking to himself, “There’s no chance.”

The Cedar Crest and Millersville University graduate knew firsthand the difficulties of reentering the professional baseball circuit. Jones spent two weeks in the independent Atlantic League in 2025 before receiving his release from the Staten Island FerryHawks.

Jones had returned to Millersville as a volunteer assistant, hoping to help steer the Marauders to an NCAA Division II national title.

But something pulled him to the Evansville Otters website. Something — deep down — told him there was more gas left in the tank.

“After I got released, I realized how hard it is to get back into it,” he said. “I thought, ‘Maybe this is it.’ But then I said, ‘Maybe we give it one more shot.’”

Jones earned a callback from the Otters two days after filling out the questionnaire. Before he could blink, he had a spring training invite in his hip pocket and gained a roster spot by May.

“I remember calling (Millersville skipper Jon) Shehan and saying, ‘Hey, this just happened. I think I want to pursue it,’” Jones said. “But I said, ‘I don’t want to take away from the guys and our goal to win a national championship. I don’t want to be a distraction if I’m just leaving four months later.’ And he was like, ‘I think you should stay around. It’d be good for the guys to see you pursue your dream, and it’d give them something to try to pursue.’

“So I was like, ‘You know what, if he’s gonna believe in me, I’m going for it.’”

‘The most fun’

Jones anticipated a quaint town with little bustle. Perhaps a restaurant or two. A handful of stoplights on the main drag.

When the Lebanon native arrived in Indiana, it was quite the contrary.

He was instantly enthralled.

“We live with host families, and our host mom is great,” Jones said. “She gives us recommendations. We have a zoo, a bunch of restaurants, and it’s right on the (Ohio) River. It’s enough to do where you’re not bored. It keeps you entertained.”

Where Jones found the most entertainment, his overwhelming joy was on the diamond.

Through 56 games, he’s batting .286 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. A stalwart second baseman, Jones was tabbed a Frontier League all-star alongside five teammates and two fellow infielders.

Evansville has a 36-25 record and sits in second place in the Central Division.

“We have a really group of guys, and we’re off to a good start,” Jones said. “Obviously, it helps when you’re playing good baseball, but this is probably the most fun I’ve had playing baseball since I was in 12U.”

Jones said the team dynamic in Evansville is a rarity in baseball circles.

It’s the first time in his career he’s come to the facility hours before scheduled warmups. It’s an assembly that signifies the competitive and laid-back balance.

“I just want to come to the ballpark every day,” Jones said, “and it’s because of the group we have. I come around noon or 1 p.m. to just hang out with everyone.”

‘A creature of habit’

Jones isn’t one for superstitions. Routine, though, he has down to a science.

The former Falcon considers consistency his outlying attribute. He takes the same amount of swings in the cage. He fields ground balls in an identical manner. He dresses in the same order, beginning with his right foot.

“I’m kind of a creature of habit,” Jones said. “And now being in the Midwest, I’ve learned it’s humid. So I’ve been taking better care of my body and just doing what I need to do. Not trying to do too much is the big thing.”

Jones’ tendencies stretch beyond the physicalities. Being a sponge and picking the brains of veterans has become a larger focus.

Representing Evansville in the all-star festivities provided the best outlet. With rookie status, Jones engineered as many conversations as possible.

“It’s just coming to understand the game of baseball,” he said. “You’re gonna have your ups and downs, but you just have to stay consistent within your routine. The results are going to differ, but if you stick to your approach, stick to what you do best and just get after it every day, it’s going to pay off.”

Fresh perspective

Jones absorbed the adversities of pro ball in his truncated Atlantic League stint. He stepped into the coaching shoes at his college program and peered through a different baseball lens.

Both experiences have snowballed into an unforgettable Evansville voyage. He understands the player struggles while implementing the instructional pieces.

“It’s one thing to sit there (as a coach) and be like, ‘Hey, you guys need to be mentally stronger. After a bad loss, you need to be able to regroup and move on,’” Jones said. “Or if you’re going through a slump, say, ‘You should do this. You should do that.’ It’s always easy to point fingers.

“But as a player, you’re like, ‘It’s just one bad game. It’s whatever.’ I can go back and look and try to do something different the next time. … I’ve really come to understand it’s about practicing what you preach.”

Jones brought his preaches to life when he submitted his questionnaire.

His “no chance” is now his best decision.