Jones’ grandfather, César Tovar, played 12 seasons in the MLB from 1965 until 1976.
For Maryland baseball freshman Paul Jones II, baseball is more than swinging a bat or fielding a ground ball. It’s about honoring the family legacy built by his late grandfather, César Tovar.
Tovar, a Venezuela native, was more than a guy who played all nine defensive positions in an MLB game; he was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. His influence passed on to his grandson, who honors his grandfather on and off the diamond.
“My cross that I wear every day, it was a gift from my grandma that has his birthstone in it,” said Jones, who has started in four games this season. “That’s a way to keep him with me every day.”
Tovar played 12 seasons in the MLB. He first came to the United States in 1959 after signing a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins following the 1964 season, where he broke into the big leagues.
From 1965 to 1972 — his first eight seasons with the Twins — he made a name for himself as an elite utility player. Tovar played every defensive position while also providing a steady bat in the lineup, hitting .281 with a .337 on-base percentage during his time in Minnesota.
Though Tovar died two decades before his grandson arrived in College Park, his influence shapes Jones’ daily routine and fuels his motivation.
“I never got to meet him, but just being able to carry that on [means a lot] because family is such a big part of who I am,” Jones said. “So creating that legacy and making sure that it lives on, making sure that more people know who he is through me, is a really big part.”
Jones grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, less than 20 miles from Minneapolis and close to Tovar’s former teammates, who have helped mentor Jones.
“It was great because Tony Oliva was always around because he played with my grandpa, [and] Rod Carew, I got to talk to [him] a lot,” Jones said. “Being able to be around those great ballplayers, honestly changed my whole perspective on baseball, and it’s shown me where I want to be one day.”
While offering advice, Oliva and Carew also told Jones stories about his grandfather as a player and person.
While Tovar’s legacy lives on with his family and former teammates, his induction into the Twins’ Hall of Fame in 2022 solidified his name in the team’s history and allowed Jones to feel more connected to his grandfather’s legacy.
“We got to see so much of my family I’ve never gotten to meet,” Jones said. “I got to put on the jersey with his name and number on it to throw out the first pitch. I got to meet so many great baseball players and see so many great people, which is such an awesome experience I’ll remember forever.”
In high school, Jones was a top recruit from Minnesota. Perfect Game ranked him the No. 6 overall player in the state, and the No. 1 first baseman.
“Coming in, I had really high expectations,” Jones said. “But being here now, I’ve learned to free up myself, learned more about who I am as a player and made sure I have the most confidence in myself.”
Jones has not played much this season for the Terps, with Hollis Porter holding the starting spot at first base. But he has made an impact when he’s seen the field. His first hit came on Feb. 15 against Mercyhurst and he notched his first home run — a grand slam — on Feb. 22 at Western Carolina. He also pitched an inning against the Catamounts.
Recently, though, Jones made three consecutive starts at designated hitter. He started on April 19 and 20 against Indiana, and again on April 22 against Towson. While he hasn’t seen much action, the team’s struggles and constant shuffling of the lineup have allowed Jones to earn playing time and stay ready.
“It’s been big knowing what I can do as a player, staying patient and just making sure that when my name is called upon, I’m ready to go,” Jones said. “It’s just been a big confidence thing for me, just staying confident through it all, even though I’m not playing as much, but knowing that when I do play, I’ll do what I can do.”