Is Spencer Jones the left-handed Aaron Judge in the making?
Spencer Jones is not a name that is widely familiar to New York Yankees fans. The team that hit a league-best 254 home runs is not exactly looking to replace their current bats.
Apart from home run king Aaron Judge, who broke an MLB record with 62 home runs, five other Yankees surpassed the 15-home run mark last season. Even at this early juncture of the preseason, the Bronx Bombers have hit 22 home runs, placing them second only to the Detroit Tigers.
Spencer Jones is a left-hitting, left-throwing utility outfielder that the Yankees selected in the 2022 Draft. Jones went in the first round as he was selected 25th overall by the Yankees.
Spencer Jones is who Zac Veen aspires to be. https://t.co/cx1ZaPEt8F
"Spencer Jones is who Zac Veen aspires to be." - @ Waldos World
Jones is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, whose baseball program has produced MLB greats like new Chicago Cubs star Dansby Swanson. Last season, he played 22 games for the Yankees' Single-A affiliate, hitting .325/.411/.494 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs.
Although Jones, who will be 22 in May, has never played a game in the MLB, he is already drawing comparisons to another outfielder. At 6-foot-7, Jones measures up to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge is also 6-foot-7 and was the tallest player in the entire MLB last season.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, writer Chris Kirschner recounted a conversation he had with a Yankees executive regarding Jones. The unnamed executive was very optimistic about Jones, saying:
“He’s really got some left-handed Aaron Judge to him"
The New York Yankees already have a wealth of youthful talent competing for top spots on the team. Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza have emerged as the fan choice for middle infield positions, giving starters like Gleyber Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa a run for their money.
2022 1st round pick Spencer Jones👀 https://t.co/K6On529zTn
"2022 1st round pick Spencer Jones" - @ Pinstripe Strong
Although he is in the organization, Spencer Jones is not technically on the Yankees Grapefruit League roster. The California native made his first batting appearance for the Yankees last week against the Atlanta Braves.
Spencer Jones is the latest in a hyped young Yankees cohort
Another young name that is making the rounds is outfielder Jasson Dominguez. Dominguez hit a 3-run home run that lifted the Yankees over the Atlanta Braves this week. Although it will probably be a few years before Jones is a Yankees regular, it's good to know that he bares at least some resemblance to the big man.