‘Pretty good debut': Spencer Jones blasts 470-foot home run in Yankees' exhibition opener
LAKELAND, Fla. – Maybe you’ve heard about him, the Yankees’ young 6-foot-6 center fielder drawing comparisons as a lefty-hitting Aaron Judge type, with raw speed.
In Saturday’s exhibition opener, Spencer Jones became more than a name atop a prospect list.
“Pretty good debut,’’ said manager Aaron Boone.
Entering as a pinch-hitter, Jones launched a 470-foot home run into the Jetstream at Joker-Marchant Stadium, then delivered two singles, with four RBI total, in a 22-10 win against the Detroit Tigers.
“The wind helped a little bit for sure. Felt good. Caught it out front,’’ Jones said of his clout off right-hander Mason Englert, who made 31 appearances with the 2023 Tigers.
Jones, 22, spent last year between Class A Hudson Valley and Class AA Somerset, and he’s likely to open the year back at Double-A.
But he’s already a well-known figure in Yankees Universe, untouchable when teams like the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians make trade demands.
“I’m going to be very hesitant to give up guys like (pitchers Will) Warren and (Chase) Hampton and (slugger) Spencer Jones,’’ said owner Hal Steinbrenner, speaking earlier in the week about his most coveted prospects.
Spencer Jones' most impressive at-bat
Jones is No. 46 on Baseball America’s preseason prospects list for 2024, No. 1 with the Yankees.
“The first thing that stands out is how fast he is,’’ said Boone. “Obviously a big man, but he can fly.’’
There wasn’t a chance for a stolen base Saturday, with the bases clogged by suspect pitching.
A crowd of 9,096 fans was largely gone before the final totals of 23 walks and nine batters hit by 18 pitchers.
After his solo homer soared over the right field bullpen wall, Jones was next drilled in the elbow guard.
In his third time up, Jones fouled off six pitches before lacing an opposite field single to left.
That was his most impressive at-bat of the day.
“Fighting it off and finally got one he could really handle,’’ said Boone. “Hit it the other way with authority, too, which is good to see.’’“I was really locked in there,’’ Jones said of the long at-bat. “I forgot to call time. So, the runner on first called time for me.
“Feels good just being focused and being out there playing again.’’
Spencer Jones' aim in his first MLB spring training
Just two weeks younger than Anthony Volpe, this is Jones’ first big-league camp.
“Just want to play baseball and…hit the ball hard, run fast, play the outfield,’’ Jones said. “Just going to do what I do, day after day, and wherever it goes, it goes.’’
In 117 combined minor league games last year, Jones stole 43 bases in 55 attempts while batting .267 with 16 homers, 66 RBI and a .780 OPS.
Plus, he’s “a really good defender in center field,’’ Boone said of Jones, a first-round pick (25th overall) in 2022 out of Vanderbilt University.
“There’s definitely things I can work on,’’ said Jones, including stealing bases. “They do such a good job of teaching it in this organization. I wasn’t too good at it when I was at college.’’
In batting practice groups with the likes of Judge, Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton, Jones is “just trying to be a sponge’’ and take it all in.
“You get to wake up and hang out with all these guys during the day, it’s a lot of fun to go to work,’’ said Jones. “Just cool to be a part of for right now, learn as much as possible.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Spencer Jones blasts 470-foot home run in Yankees' spring training opener
