Spencer Jones Is Something Else

If you haven’t been paying attention to Yankees prospect Spencer Jones this spring, it’s time to put your baseball mitts on and catch up! This guy is tearing the cover off the ball, and it’s getting harder to ignore just how good he looks.

Through just 16 plate appearances and 14 at-bats, Jones has been on an absolute tear. His slash line? A video-game-like .429/.500/1.000, adding up to a mind-boggling 1.500 OPS. He’s already sent two baseballs into orbit, knocked in six RBIs, and even stolen a base for good measure. Simply put, he’s been one of the best bats in Yankees camp.

Against the Phillies, the story of the day was none other than Spencer Jones. He went a perfect 3-for-3, missing the cycle by just a triple. If he keeps this up, pitchers are going to start having nightmares about him.

The Yankees’ top outfield prospect, their 2022 first-round pick, turns 24 in May and has been making steady progress through the minors. His 2024 stint in Double-A Somerset was promising—.259/.336/.452 with 17 bombs and 78 RBIs—which is more than enough to believe he’ll make his Bronx debut sooner rather than later. As the New York Post once speculated:

“Has Aaron Judge’s mere existence led the Yankees to their next Aaron Judge? The Yankees and Spencer Jones likely hope so.”

It’s easy to see why. Jones and Judge are practically baseball doppelgängers—massive, athletic outfielders with long levers and jaw-dropping power. Their swings are so similar you’d think they were separated at birth. Initially, I had my doubts about calling Jones “Judge 2.0,” worried that the weight of such a comparison might mess with his head. But now? Forget that. Jones is handling it like a pro.

Back in January, I wrote in YANKEES ARE HOPING TO ONE DAY SOON HAVE TWO AARON JUDGES:

“I suspect however, the pressure and comparison is not helping Spencer’s psyche. Yes, Jones is a towering center fielder and has heard those comparisons ‘a lot,’ and for good reason. Much like Judge, Jones is a rare breed: a big, athletic outfielder with long levers and jaw-dropping raw power. But unlike Judge, who’s proven to be one of the best hitters in the game, Jones is still a work in progress.“

Well, I’m happy to eat my words. Spencer Jones is coming into his own, and it’s exhilarating to watch. While the Yankees probably won’t bring him up just yet, and he’s unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, I say—why not? It would be a massive morale boost and a thrilling sight to see.

Spencer Jones is coming. Get excited, Yankees fans.