Spencer Jones is the New York Yankees‘ No. 3-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline, and plenty of fans are ready to watch the 24-year-old take his home run trots at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
With Major League Baseball rosters expanding from 26 to 28 in September, the Yankees opted to bring left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough back from a rehab assignment and promote catcher J.C. Escarra from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Escarra may not see much action on the field and can be utilized as a depth option and injury replacement.
The Yankees’ outfield is crowded despite Aaron Judge remaining as the club’s full-time designated hitter as he rebounds from a flexor strain in his right elbow. Even if Jones did receive a promotion, it would be difficult for Yankees manager Aaron Boone to find playing time for the 6-foot-7 left-handed hitter.
Yankees Prospect Spencer Jones Was Terrific in July
New York promoted Jones from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 27, and he made a strong first impression quickly. In 18 games in July, Jones posted an absurd slash line of .419/.477/.946 with 11 home runs and six doubles.
“Most promising of all? He struck out in just 22.7% of his trips to the plate, a massive improvement over the otherwise bloated K rates he had posted to that point in the season,” R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports wrote Wednesday.
In 2024, Jones set a Yankees minor league record with 200 strikeouts in 544 plate appearances, an aspect of his game that New York hopes will continue to improve. After his sensational showing at the plate in July, the Yankees prospect took a step backward in August.
“You could understand how people felt Jones was on the rise, and why they wondered if he might get the call after Aaron Judge hurt his elbow and required an injured list stint,” wrote Anderson. “The Yankees did not press the button then, and they have no reason to press the button now. Jones followed up his torrid July with a horrid August, hitting .180/.250/.306 with three home runs and a ghastly 37.9% strikeout rate that doubled as the worst full-month mark of his 2025 campaign.”
A Roster Spot May be Open for Spencer Jones in 2026
Outfielder Trent Grisham reaches free agency at season’s end, and Cody Bellinger has a player option included in the three-year, $80 million contract he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs.
The Yankees are among the teams rumored to have interest in Kyle Tucker during the upcoming offseason, but they’ve already shown a tendency to have faith in their prospects rather than sign big-name free agents.
New York opted to believe in the development of shortstop Anthony Volpe over signing Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, or Trevor Story during the 2021-22 offseason. That decision has not paid dividends for them yet, but Jones may have more star potential than Volpe.
“Jones has been one of the most polarizing prospects in the minors the last few years on account of his extreme combination of strength and swing-and-miss tendencies,” wrote Anderson. “Based on his last couple of months, expect him to continue to occupy that space — and to remain in Triple-A until 2026.”
Could Jones be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster if Grisham or Bellinger leave? The answer to that question may depend on how New York approaches this winter’s free agency.
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