The comparisons between Spencer Jones and a certain Pinstripes captain keep getting more accurate. The Pinstripes’ topmost prospect has been a revelation during this Spring Breakout. With the 6’6 slugger regularly showcasing his raw power and unbelievable strength, it’s becoming obvious why the New York Yankees deemed him untradeable. However, these performances have raised a big question – a headache of a good kind for the Bronx Bombers.
With Jones going from strength to strength, there are growing calls for a major league debut. However, with doubts still lingering over Jones’ long-term growth – is the slugger really ready to take the next step?
Spencer Jones shines again with another explosive display
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The Yankees’ no.2 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline), has been a major revelation this Spring Training. The slugger has shown massive strides of power and that story continued during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In a 9-1 win against the Jays, Jones hit a pair of massive home runs that once again proved how much of a clutch player he is.
SPENCER JONES, AGAIN!😱
Spencer Jones smashes his SECOND HOME RUN of the @MiLB Spring Breakout to put the @Yankees up 9-0!💥 pic.twitter.com/y67ynl6FIV
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) March 16, 2024
Jones started this rout with a 399-foot homerun into the deep right-center in the first inning. From that point on, the slugger was on a roll. Jones showed his speed in the third inning as he turned an unlikely shot into a single. Finally, in the fifth inning, the prospect hit another 427-foot center-field homer. Overall, Jones went 3-for-4 in this game.
According to the New York Post, Jones had gone 7-for-17 in 11 games this spring before this game. With 1.171 OPS, he has been an undisputed star for the Yankees. “He’s a specimen. He’s awesome,” said Brock Selvidge – the winning pitcher. With such great performances, it has become quite obvious that Jones has a bright future ahead.
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So that must mean a place in the starting squad could be available for him, right? As of now, the chances of an MLB debut seem low – especially because of his personal growth trajectory.
Why the New York Yankees might wait a little more before debuting the prospect
The New York Post had written that “it would be a surprise if he found the major league spotlight this season,” for Jones. While one can speculate many reasons, the obvious one is that he’s still a Double-A player. Last season he played 17 games with Double-A team Somerset and he’s looking to join them again this season. The Pinstripes do not want to rush the development of Jones – especially because they’re currently stacked with outfielders like Juan Soto.
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On the other hand, despite great performances experts have noted the swing-and-miss tendencies of Jones. As a result, there’s clearly work yet to be done by the slugger. Though the future looks bright for this young man, the Yankees might not want to put him on the battlefield too soon. In a world of rushed developments, patience always wins in the end.