Jonathan Jenkins returned to single-A South Bend to start his third season there in 1993. Far from being disappointed, Jenkins told The South Bend Tribune he was just fine with that.
The alternative, after a promising season largely lost to a stress fracture in his arm, was not being able to play at all, he told The Tribune.
"I was frustrated, disappointed, angry," Jenkins told The Tribune that April. "It was my first time to be injured. I had proved to myself I could do the job."
Jenkins continued to play into 1997, including two seasons spent in independent ball. He topped out at high-A.
Jenkins' career began in 1990, taken by the White Sox in the 20th round of the draft out of East Carolina University.
Jenkins started with the White Sox at short-season Utica. He got into 14 outings, six starts. He went 2-3, with a 3.04 ERA.
He moved to single-A South Bend to start 1991. In one early season contest, he threw eight shutout innings where he gave up three hits.
"Jon was in total control from the first pitch," South Bend manager Tommy Thompson told The Tribune after that April game. "He was with me last year in Utica and I'll tell you, that's the best game I've seen Jon pitch in professional baseball."
Jenkins saw 19 outings, 15 starts at South Bend, with a 3.88 ERA. He also saw nine starts at short-season Erie.
Then came 1992. He saw five relief outings at South Bend and one in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He didn't give up an earned run, then suffered that stress fracture.
He then returned to South Bend for 1993. His season proved to be 16 relief outings. He had a 1.93 ERA.
Jenkins moved to the Orioles system briefly for 1994 at high-A Frederick, where he saw three outings. He played 1995 at high-A Visalia. He moved to independent Southern Minny and Greenville in 1996 and he last played four Southern Minny in 1997.
Jenkins later turned coach and scout. He then joined Culpeper Wood Preservers in his hometown in Virginia and, in 2016, was promoted to company president.
- South Bend Tribune, April 14, 1991: S.B.Sox respond, deck the Cougars
- South Bend Tribune, April 10, 1993: Burton has fast company
Made the Majors:1,247-34.6%
Never Made Majors:2,358-65.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:306
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