Half-Korean outfielder Jones appreciates being welcomed with open arms

From left, Shay Whitcomb, Dane Dunning and Jahmai Jones, three U.S.-born players of Korean descent for Korea at the World Baseball Classic pose for photos after practice at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Wednesday. Yonhap

When Jahmai Jones, the half-Korean outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, first joined the Korean national team for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last week in Japan, he wasn't so sure how he'd be accepted.

After all, Jones had never been around this group of Korean players before, as he was about to represent the country of his mother's birth.

But then his new teammates fully embraced him as one of their own, something the U.S.-born player appreciated right away.

"Everybody in this locker room is just so welcoming and inviting," Jones told reporters at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday, the eve of Korea's first Pool C game against Czechia. "It makes it easy to jell in the locker room, and it's honestly a lot of fun. It means a lot to me to be a part of it, and the fact that they've opened their arms and allowed me to just kind of be myself here, it means a lot to me."

Manager Ryu Ji-hyun has sung the praises of Jones for his outgoing, gregarious nature, which Ryu believes helped the player himself find his footing in the new surroundings right away.

Ryu himself has done his part to make Jones feel comfortable. To wit: After Jones stole second base during an exhibition game against the Orix Buffaloes on Tuesday, right after getting hit by a pitch, Ryu formed a heart sign above his head.

The moment was caught on national television in Korea, and Jones said he got a kick out of that moment himself.

"I looked over, and I saw it, and I was laughing a little bit," Jones said with a smile. "When I came here, I just told (Ryu) I wanted to play my game. Thankfully, got a good jump on a stolen base. Just trying to play my game to help everybody win."

Jahmai Jones of Korea celebrates after hitting a single against the Orix Buffaloes during an exhibition game ahead of the World Baseball Classic at Kyocera Dome in Osaka, March 3. Yonhap

Jones, 28, has also taken a liking to his Korean-born teammates — namely hard-hitting outfielder Ahn Hyun-min.

The two are similarly built as thick-bodied sluggers, and Jones said his teammates have taken notice too.

"Apparently, Ahn is my little brother," Jones said, laughing. "So everyone's talking that we're related. So he's like a little brother right now."

Jones said both Ahn and another right-handed masher, Kim Do-yeong, have impressed him with their performances. Ahn and Kim each went deep in that Buffaloes game Tuesday.

"They have a lot of talent and to be that young and have the success that they've had at this level already, it's special to watch," Jones said of the 22-year-old stars. "I've had talks with them, and we've gone back and forth on a couple of things, and they've asked a couple of questions. So any way I can help them get to where they want to be is all I'm trying to do with them because they already got enough talent."

Korean players all have their own walk-up songs from their Korea Baseball Organization clubs, while Jones and Shay Whitcomb, another half-Korean hitter, didn't arrive here with one for themselves. But Korean fans who have made their way to Japan wasted no time coming up with walk-up songs for both, and Jones, no matter how hard he tried to stay locked in at the plate, admitted he heard his name being chanted in Korean.

"It's awesome. It's super inviting," he said. "It means a lot that they're opening up their arms to me. I try to focus, but when you hear that going on, it's hard not to appreciate it."

The icing on the cake for Jones would be a trip to the knockout stage after the opening round in Tokyo. And he believes this team has what it takes to get the job done.

"I think we have a special team right now, and I think everyone's really excited. I think everybody understands where we're trying to go and what we're trying to do," he said. "The energy is about as positive as I've ever seen it."