From the ONSL to the Pros: How One Summer Launched Otto Jones’ Career

When Otto Jones arrived in Reidsville, North Carolina, he didn’t know just how much that summer would change his life. As a young player at Washburn University, he was sent across the country by his college coach, hoping for valuable reps and playing time in the Old North State League.

“I was sent to play in the Old North State League by my college coach at Washburn University who thought that it would be a good league for a young player like me to get a bunch of reps,” Otto recalled.

What he found in Reidsville went far beyond at-bats. It was a summer that would shape not only his game—but his future.

“I played for the Reidsville Luckies in their inaugural season and the core memory of that team was even though we did not have a big fancy ballpark and facility the fanbase in Reidsville showed us a ton of support and made us feel like pro ballplayers,” he said.

That sense of support and belonging gave him something every athlete needs: belief. His confidence took off—and so did his game.

“I think without my summer in the Old North State League I would not be playing professional baseball today,” Otto said. “That summer gave me the confidence that I was a high level player and with the unreal support system I had in NC helped me in my development to the next level.”

One of his favorite memories was wearing the Reidsville jersey in front of a hometown crowd during the league’s All-Star Game.

“A moment that stood out to me during my season in the ONSL was getting to play in the All Star game at our home field,” he said. “It was such an honor to represent the Reidsville Area as a starter and get to play at our home site.”

But beyond the field, what stuck with him most was the people—those who poured into his experience and made Reidsville feel like family.

“My head coach Ritchie Pegram and host family the Ryan’s (Tim, Cindy, and Shamus) were so amazing for me that summer and I still keep in contact with them to this day,” Otto said. “Ritchie gave me a ton of freedom on the field to be the player I am and that was huge for my development, and having a host family like the Ryan’s who were so open and inviting I truly consider them a second family to me.”

That summer became the springboard for Otto’s next chapter—professional baseball. Now suiting up for the Rocky Mountain Vibes in the Pioneer League, he’s living out a lifelong dream in the place he calls home: Colorado.

“Playing in the ONSL helped me prepare to play professional baseball as I had to learn what it was like to keep my body in shape while on the road as well as learn new pitching staffs and teammates,” he explained. “Playing in the Pioneer League has been a dream come true for me as I have always dreamed of playing professional baseball and now I get to play in my home state of Colorado.”

And for those chasing that same dream—those stepping into the ONSL for the first time—Otto’s advice comes from the heart.

“Advice I would give to players entering into the ONSL with dreams of playing at the next level would be to find out what kind of player you are,” he said. “Having an identity as a player changed my career and helped me focus on my job for the team instead of trying to be something I wasn’t.”

The Reidsville Luckies may no longer be part of the league, but their legacy lives on through players like Otto Jones—a reminder that sometimes, one summer, one team, and one town can change everything.