Congratulations, Derek Jones: WSU All-Time HR King

Courtesy, WSU Athletics Dept.

If chicks dig the long ball, Derek Jones has them covered.

Today, in the fourth inning against Portland, Derek Jones hit his 41st career HR, putting him alone atop the all-time WSU leader board.

Oh, did I mention the record-breaking HR was a grand slam? Because it was. Derek Jones is awesome, be glad he's a Coug.

Sometimes this happens and it doesn't mean much because the player is a jerk or smug, this couldn't be further from the truth in Derek's case. In the two years I've worked with Jones he has become one of my favorite players on the team, not only because of his talent but because he is just a great person and an awesome teammate.

For weeks we asked Derek about the record and whether he was thinking about it, every time we asked he brushed the record aside and said he would rather have the team win than break a record.

Jones is the kind of team-first, humble player you love to root for because he's nice and he can launch a baseball 450 feet.

Honestly I'm not sure why Portland pitched to this guy with the bases loaded, but they did, and he broke a record because of it. So thank you, Portland pitcher, for probably hanging a pitch over the center of the plate. Thank you, Derek Jones, for promptly placing that ball over the outfield wall and thank you for being a great guy.

Go Cougs!