HE’S A STUDENT OF THE GAME
As top Yank prospect Jones learns from the best, he puts valuable baseball lessons down on paper
TAMPA — Position players have only been at George M. Steinbrenner Field for a few days, but the sight of Spencer Jones scribbling notes has already become a common sight.
Jones, who stands 6-foot-6, will sit by his locker with his lanky legs propped up, doubling as a desk for a baby blue notebook. Journaling is part of his process, a way for him to keep track of what he’s working on and learning.
“I just like writing,” Jones told the Daily News. A communications major, he’s still trying to earn his degree from Vanderbilt. Jones’ mom would love to see that happen, but the son’s day job may delay graduation for a few more offseasons.
Multiple publications consider Jones the Yankees’ top prospect, including Baseball Prospectus, FanGraphs and MLB.com. After a standout 2023 season at High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset — his first full campaign as a pro — Jones earned an invite to major league spring training, where the SoCal native is impressing so far.
“I’m excited for him. He’s got a good approach,” Aaron Judge told The News. “He hits the ball hard all over the field. So I’m looking forward to seeing him in some games and up close.”
Jones, a center fielder who hit .267/.336/.444 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI last year, already has Hal Steinbrenner’s attention as well. On Thursday, the Yankees owner said that he is “hesitant” to trade Jones, in addition to pitching prospects Will Warren and Chase Hampton.
After an offseason of trade rumors, Jones took that comment in stride.
“It’s cool he believes in us. I want to be a part of the team,” the 22-year-old said. But Jones added that he can’t worry about the future. “I just gotta focus on today and what I gotta get done,” he continued.
On Saturday, Jones smashed a 470-foot, pinch-hit bomb in the Yankees’ exhibition opener, a 22-10 win over the Tigers. The blast, assisted by a breezy day, cleared the right field bullpen and landed on the concourse at Detroit’s Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
“The wind helped a little bit, for sure,” Jones said after the game. “But it felt good. Caught it out in front.”
While Jones reacted to the homer with modesty, his teammates were wowed.
“Jaw-dropping,” said Anthony Volpe, who played with Jones on Team USA and Area Code squads in high school.
Jones also shot a single the other way for an RBI following a
12-pitch at-bat. He finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs scored and a hit-by-pitch, which he barely reacted to.
“He hit some balls the other way with authority. Obviously got a peek at the power,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Thought he moved around well in center field. Pretty good debut in big league spring training.”
Jones, a first-round pick in 2022, spent the offseason refining his swing with a personal hitting coach.
After totaling 155 strikeouts last year, he wanted to tweak his bat path and
shorten his left-handed stroke.
“Just doing some different patterns with the baseball bat,” Jones said. “Got some work in this offseason with the hitting coach who helped me out a lot. It was just putting things in context for me and phrasing them in ways I hadn’t really thought of before. It’s been beneficial to me so far, and I’m excited to see what progress we can make during the season.”
Jones, who is listed at 235 pounds, also said that he put on some “good weight” while improving his upper body strength.
“I’ve always been somebody who’s underweight, and it’s important for me to feel strong, feel fast,” he said. “And what I’ve learned is that as long as I continue to train the way that I do, adding weight doesn’t really affect the way that I’ve been moving on a baseball field.”
Indeed, Jones can move for a player his size. He swiped 43 bags last year, and he’d like to topple that number this season.
“He can legit fly,” Boone said.
Jones’ frame makes him an unassuming threat on the bases, but coaches have told him he’s “not gonna get anybody by surprise anymore.” Still, speed will remain an important part of Jones’ game.
“It’s something that I take a lot of pride in because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” said Jones, who works on his speed by training barefoot, in socks and with lightweight New Balance shoes. “The organization here, they teach me how to use it really well. So it’s just fun to get on the basepaths.
“Baserunning and defense don’t slump. Neither does speed.”
Jones’ wheels also help him in center, where Boone believes he can develop into a “really good defender.” Jones values his glovework, too, as he earned Judge’s respect before camp by seeking out the help of outfield coach Luis Rojas at the Yankees’ minor league facility in Tampa.
Judge recalled how Jones had a scrimmage to play in that day, but he still showed up early to work on his transfers before throwing from the outfield.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulder,” the Yankees’ captain said. “For me to see that at such a young age is impressive.”
While nothing is set in stone, Jones will likely return to Somerset when spring training ends. He only played 17 games there last season, a point that Brian Cashman made while praising Jones at the start of camp.
“He was the No. 1 pick for a reason for us,” the GM said. “Very talented, really high ceiling. So looking forward to getting him to big league camp and getting his taste here and then deploying him to Double-A and getting the season going again. But he’s a very talented guy. He gets asked about a lot, so I know our evaluations of him are shared similarly in the industry because of how his name comes up.”
While Jones still needs some seasoning, a scorching spring could help him expedite his big league arrival.
Last year, Jasson Domínguez tore up the Grapefruit League, slashing .455/.520/1.045 with four homers and nine RBI over 11 games. By September, The Martian found himself in the majors as a 20-year-old.
Granted, the Yankees’ disappointing season factored into Domínguez’ fast-track, but he showed he could handle major league pitching before UCL surgery abruptly ended his cup of coffee.
Jones saw Domínguez’s rapid rise to the majors, but he’s not necessarily trying to copy his fellow center fielder’s path this season.
“Jasson’s an incredible player,” Jones said. “Everybody in the world is starting to figure that out now. But he had a really, really strong year last year.
“My plan is just to continue developing as I have been. Whatever happens this season happens.”
Jones isn’t trying to be the next Judge, either. Their towering statures often lead to comparisons, but they have some differences in their games.
“I think that’s unfair to him,” Judge said of the comps. “He’s gonna be a special talent in his own way, and he’s gonna bring a different aspect to the game.”
For now, Jones is trying to pick the brains of the Yankees’ more established sluggers, who have all been willing to help him out. In addition to chats with Judge, Jones’ locker sits perpendicular to Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto’s stalls.
The locker placement and work in the outfield allows Jones to observe the All-Stars and ask questions. As always, he’s taking notes.
“It’s like the greatest thing ever,” Jones said. “You get to show up for work and you get to be around some of the best in the world. It’s just an opportunity that I’m not going to take for granted.”