LAKELAND, Fla. — Spencer Jones positive is aware of how one can make a primary impression.
Ranked because the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Jones blasted a Statcast-projected 470-foot dwelling run in his Grapefruit League debut Saturday at Publix Subject, a fifth-inning drive that cleared the right-field bullpens and set off a mad memento scramble on an overlooking concourse.
“Jaw-dropping,” stated Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe after New York’s 22-10 win over Detroit. “The very first thing is, clearly the physicality stands out. However simply at present, the at-bats he places collectively and the way pure of a hitter he seems like he’s, it’s tremendous spectacular.”
Jones, 22, got here off the bench to slug the pinch-hit homer off Tigers right-hander Mason Englert, simply two days after managing common companion Hal Steinbrenner stated he can be “hesitant” to incorporate Jones in any commerce packages.
“It was cool; it was enjoyable to be on the sector once more, my first recreation since final season,” Jones stated. “The wind helped it somewhat bit for positive, but it surely felt good. I caught it out in entrance.”
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated that he believed the 470-foot calculation was correct.
“An extended, lofty homer to right-center,” Boone stated. “I don’t even essentially assume he clipped all of it.”
Wind-aided or not, the homer supplied a glimpse of the big-time energy potential that scouts and different observers see forward for Jones. The Yankees’ first-round choice (twenty fifth general) within the 2022 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt College, Jones has been savoring his expertise in huge league camp thus far.
“It’s so cool,” Jones stated. “You get to get up and hang around with all these guys in the course of the day. It’s quite a lot of enjoyable to go to work and do this stuff. So it’s simply cool to be part of it for proper now, and study as a lot as attainable. I’m simply attempting to be a sponge.”
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Jones has been in comparison with a left-handed Aaron Decide. He performed 117 video games final season for Excessive-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset, the place he slashed .267/.336/.444 with 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 43 stolen bases.
Jones spent a lot of his offseason refining his swing with a private hitting coach, aiming to shorten his stroke and reduce down on strikeouts after fanning 155 occasions in 480 at-bats final season. To date, it seems just like the work is paying off.
“I performed with him in highschool, when he was a pitcher,” stated Volpe, who talked about Staff USA and the Space Code Video games among the many occasions the place he and Jones overlapped. “To see how far he’s come from there, it’s simply actually spectacular.”
Whereas Jones’ light-tower muscle opened eyes Saturday, Boone was equally impressed by a 12-pitch at-bat dealing with Devin Candy within the eighth inning. Jones fouled off six full-count pitches from the right-hander earlier than slicing a floor ball single to left discipline for an RBI.
“He was combating off and at last received one he might actually deal with,” Boone stated of Jones, who completed the afternoon 3-for-3 with 4 RBIs and a hit-by-pitch. “He hit the ball with authority the opposite approach at present, which was good to see.”
Stated Jones: “That was a cool one. I used to be simply actually locked in.”
Although Jones’ work within the batter’s field stole the headlines Saturday, Boone stated he has additionally been impressed by Jones’ expertise on the basepaths and within the outfield.
“The very first thing that stands out is how briskly he’s,” Boone stated. “Clearly, [Jones is] a giant man, however he can fly. He’s a man that I might legitimately see as a very good defender in heart discipline, the best way he goes and will get the ball and strikes.”
Yankees common supervisor Brian Cashman lately stated that he expects Jones to start the season at Double-A, the place he performed simply 17 video games final season.
Cashman has rebuffed quite a few commerce proposals that included Jones, together with from the Brewers for Corbin Burnes and from the White Sox for Dylan Stop. The Padres additionally requested for Jones of their preliminary discussions relating to Juan Soto.
“He was the No. 1 decide for a cause for us,” Cashman stated. “Very proficient, actually excessive ceiling. So [we are] wanting ahead to getting him to huge league camp and getting his style right here, after which deploying him to Double-A and getting the season going once more. However he’s a really proficient man. He will get requested about rather a lot, so I do know our evaluations of him are shared equally within the trade due to how his title comes up.”
