Remember Spencer Jones' scorching run last summer? The towering six-foot-seven slugger lit up July with a blistering .419 average, a 1.423 OPS, and 11 homers after his promotion to Scranton. Yankees fans took notice, and for good reason.
Jones has always been a tantalizing yet polarizing prospect. Much like Aaron Judge in his early days, Jones’ massive frame raised questions about his ability to consistently connect with the ball.
Judge silenced those doubts, but Jones has faced a persistent strikeout issue. Despite this, his raw athleticism is undeniable-he boasts remarkable speed for someone his size, something even Judge can’t match.
During the offseason, Jones was reportedly putting in extra work ahead of spring training, sparking optimism that this might be his breakout year. With Jasson Dominguez having struggled in key areas last season, Jones, who can play center field, seemed poised to challenge for a spot as the fourth outfielder. But he’d need to impress in Tampa to make that leap.
Now that spring training is underway, the early signs for Jones are less than encouraging.
In the initial sessions, Jones has shown some concerning tendencies. His swing features a noticeable uppercut, and when combined with his height, it hinders consistent contact. A recent pop-up to shortstop highlighted this issue.
In a full at-bat against Yerry De Los Santos, Jones appeared unsteady, setting up on his front foot and looking uncomfortable. Despite managing to lay off some pitches out of the zone, he ultimately struck out against the journeyman reliever.
Another strikeout came against Drake Fellows, a pitcher not exactly known for overpowering stuff. It’s clear Jones is still finding his footing, and maybe even a helmet that fits properly.
It’s early days in spring training, and players often use this time to shake off the rust. However, this doesn’t fully align with reports of Jones’ offseason efforts.
There’s reason for concern. Jones is often labeled as a boom-or-bust player, and his 2025 season exemplified that. While his summer surge was memorable, his late-season slump-hitting just .210/.281/.375 with a 42.3% strikeout rate over the final 46 games-was equally significant.
This raises a crucial question: Should the Yankees consider trading Jones before his value diminishes? Could this spring expose his vulnerabilities? And if they decide to move him, might they regret it down the line?