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Twins Select Merit Jones in 14th Round of MLB Draft
7/14/2025 3:24 PM | Baseball
Second straight season Minnesota has selected right-handed pitcher
ATLANTA – The Minnesota Twins on Monday afternoon selected right-handed pitcher Merit Jones in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, picking Jones No. 419 overall.
Jones, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, becomes the 80th Utah player selected in program history and second of this draft, following Core Jackson's pick by the New York Yankees earlier today. It is also Jones' second time being drafted by the Twins; he was picked by Minnesota as an eligible sophomore during the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
He made 46 appearances in his three seasons with the Utes, including 40 starts. In the available history of Utah Baseball, Jones ranked sixth in career starts and 10th in strikeouts (175).
Jones went 4-6 in 15 appearances during the 2025 season. He threw 79 innings and had 58 strikeouts. He went seven innings in a road win over a ranked Arizona club, sealing a series victory for the Utes over the eventual Big 12 Tournament champions. He also was the victor against an eventual NCAA Regional participant in TCU. Though Jones received a no-decision, he struck out eight batters during an eventual series-evening win over BYU. He also had a quality start at Baylor, tossing seven innings of walk-free ball with six strikeouts.
As a sophomore in 2024, Jones made 13 starts and finished 3-5 with 68.1 innings of work. He struck out 68 batters along the way. His first collegiate save came in the Pac-12 Tournament when the Utes knocked off Oregon during pool play.
Spending time in the Friday spot of the 2024 rotation, Jones helped the Utes to series-opening wins over both Cal and Stanford, before the club went on to win both series later in the weekend. Jones also contributed a quality start vs. then-No. 3 Oregon State in March 2024, departing the game in line for the win.
As a freshman, his breakthrough outing came in a combined shutout at Washington on March, 12, 2023. Jones received the start in that series finale and dealt six-plus innings of five-hit, walk-free ball with four strikeouts.
Jones enjoyed a decorated high school career, playing at Idaho Falls HS under head coach Trent Johnson. Perfect Game ranked him the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Idaho and No. 2 overall player in the state for the Class of 2022. Additionally in 2022, he was tabbed Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year, Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year, District Pitcher of the Year, and several other statewide and national accolades.
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Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
Jones, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, becomes the 80th Utah player selected in program history and second of this draft, following Core Jackson's pick by the New York Yankees earlier today. It is also Jones' second time being drafted by the Twins; he was picked by Minnesota as an eligible sophomore during the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
He made 46 appearances in his three seasons with the Utes, including 40 starts. In the available history of Utah Baseball, Jones ranked sixth in career starts and 10th in strikeouts (175).
Jones went 4-6 in 15 appearances during the 2025 season. He threw 79 innings and had 58 strikeouts. He went seven innings in a road win over a ranked Arizona club, sealing a series victory for the Utes over the eventual Big 12 Tournament champions. He also was the victor against an eventual NCAA Regional participant in TCU. Though Jones received a no-decision, he struck out eight batters during an eventual series-evening win over BYU. He also had a quality start at Baylor, tossing seven innings of walk-free ball with six strikeouts.
As a sophomore in 2024, Jones made 13 starts and finished 3-5 with 68.1 innings of work. He struck out 68 batters along the way. His first collegiate save came in the Pac-12 Tournament when the Utes knocked off Oregon during pool play.
Spending time in the Friday spot of the 2024 rotation, Jones helped the Utes to series-opening wins over both Cal and Stanford, before the club went on to win both series later in the weekend. Jones also contributed a quality start vs. then-No. 3 Oregon State in March 2024, departing the game in line for the win.
As a freshman, his breakthrough outing came in a combined shutout at Washington on March, 12, 2023. Jones received the start in that series finale and dealt six-plus innings of five-hit, walk-free ball with four strikeouts.
Jones enjoyed a decorated high school career, playing at Idaho Falls HS under head coach Trent Johnson. Perfect Game ranked him the No. 1 right-handed pitcher in Idaho and No. 2 overall player in the state for the Class of 2022. Additionally in 2022, he was tabbed Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year, Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year, District Pitcher of the Year, and several other statewide and national accolades.
Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media @utahbaseball.
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