LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For the third time this summer, Mike Kirby and the NM State baseball program have dipped into the transfer portal and landed a player from Washington State. After landing pitchers Will Sierra and Tyler Hoeft, Kirby and company bolstered the outfield with the addition of the left-handed hitting Keith Jones II.
 
Jones is tearing up the West Coast League with the Portland Pickles this summer. In 25 games, Jones has put together a .314 batting average with four doubles and 12 RBI. The outfielder has also drawn 17 walks and stuck out just seven times.
 
At Washington State, Jones appeared in 40 games, making 16 starts over the course of two seasons. Throughout 2022, Jones hit .250 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI. gainst Utah on April 2, Jones lifted his first career home run – A pinch-hit two run blast. Off the bench, Jones proved to be one of the most valuable bats in the country, hitting .400 in pinch-hit appearances.
 
Out of high school, Jones was rated the No. 11 outfield prospect in California and No. 79 nationally by Perfect Game. Jones was also included in Perfect Game's top-500 players nationally at No. 423.