INDUCTION

was incredible and consistent. He played in so many big games and came through. And, man, did I have some battles with Hoffman. When ‘Hells Bells’ came on, you had to be ready. He was coming in throwing smoke. I’m honored to share a class with this group.”

Jack Morris and Alan Trammell will also be enshrined, after being elected from the Modern Era ballot.

“Unfortunately, Braves fans are familiar with Morris from the 1991 World Series, and Trammell was D JUHDW LQ¿HOGHU DQG KLWWHU ´ -RQHV said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know all the guys better.

Jones will be the sixth member of the Braves’ great teams of the 1990s and early 2000s to enter the

Hall of Fame, following the path set by pitchers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, manager Bobby Cox — who drafted Jones as the Braves’ general manager in 1990 — and executive John Schuerholz.

“It’s so unique to share the stage with all my guys,” Jones said. “Seeing their speeches over the last few years has helped me prepare. I’m not that nervous right now. I think, when I sit down and start messing ZLWK P\ VSHHFK WKH EXWWHUÀLHV KLW a little bit. It’s not going to hit me until I get up there. Last time I was up there in April (for a private tour), there was snow on the ground and nobody walking around. The next time I go up there, there’s going to be 40,000 people there to watch us get inducted. Yeah, it’s going to hit me. It’s going to be crazy.”

Jones also promised a bit of fun aimed at Smoltz. Glavine and Maddux made jokes about Smoltz

during their inductions in 2014. The following year, Smoltz clapped back and cracked on Jones for his social media activity.

Now, Jones will get the chance to have the last word.

“I would say John deserves a lot more than I am going to give him,” Jones said. “He makes himself such an easy target. Doggie (Maddux) and I have talked, and trust me, Doggie wants me to bury him. But I think there’s some good to take the high road every once in a while. But I’m going to get him.”

Jones retired in 2013 with 468 home runs, which ranks third in major league history among switch hitters, trailing only Eddie Murray (504) and Mickey Mantle (536).

“Those were two of my heroes growing up,” Jones said. “I’m still in awe that I’ll now be their teammate. My plaque is going to in the same building as theirs. You know, they say the plaques talk at night

when it’s empty. Can you imagine the debates those guys would have with each other?”

Jones keeps up with current game as a special instructor for the Braves.

He was known as a cerebral player, and his mind is still working. When asked how he would handle today’s information age, he prefers a merge between new and old schools.

“I would listen. I mean, I’m open. I want all the information that I can have,” Jones said. “But I can guarantee you this -- if they’re going WR SOD\ WKUHH LQ¿HOGHUV RQ WKH ULJKW VLGH RI WKH LQ¿HOG DJDLQVW PH ,¶P going to get them out of it. I’m going to get them out of it because I can take a ball on the inside corner and still hit a ball up the middle or to OHIW ¿HOG OHIW KDQGHG , KDYH WKDW NLQG RI FRQ¿GHQFH ´

,W LV WKDW FRQ¿GHQFH FRPELQHG with a strong work ethic, that got Jones through 2,499 games over 19 seasons -- all with the Braves.

Most of those years, he was a focal point of the franchise.

Jones retired with a .303 average,.401 on-base percentage and .529 slugging percentage. He hit better than .300 from both sides of the plate and is convinced that current players need to focus on hitting rather than changing rules.

“I hear people complaining about the shift,” Jones said. “I even heard (agent) Scott Boras, in all his wisdom, said it was discriminatory. I think that’s lazy. It can be done. It takes a conscious effort. Everybody wants to hit the ball in the gap and out of the ballpark now instead of taking the measly single. I think you’ve seen, over the last week or two with this ballclub here in Atlanta -- heck, a well-timed ground ball could’ve helped them win a ballgame that they didn’t. So, a little more attention to the fundamentals would go a long way for a lot of people around the game.”