He played for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1980 until 1984.

He has two grown daughters, Audrey and Whitney, and lives in Carleton, Michigan with his wife.

[1] Jones pitched for five seasons in Oakland (1980–84), almost entirely out of the bullpen (three starts in 112 appearances).

He compiled a 9–9 record and eight saves with a 3.95 ERA, striking out 128 batters in 205 innings.

This followed the firing of pitching coach Rick Knapp, after a six-game stretch where Tiger pitchers gave up a combined 54 runs against the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.