It is still unclear when (or if) yankees top prospect Spencer Jones will make his major league debut in the pinstripes. The left-handed slugger, standing at a towering 6-foot-6, has a handful of minor-league hurdles to clear next season before he can really hope for a big promotion.
But regardless of where Jones begins and ends his 2025 campaign, he is already in the process of making the necessary adjustments at the plate to increase his value and potential.
“This offseason has been great, working on a lot of new things,” Jones said during an appearance on YES Networks Yankees Hot Stove on Tuesday. “I think I grew a lot towards the end of last season, as far as my mental performance and the way things went. Just handling the rollercoaster season that it was and growing through it, I think I’m in “It’s a great place right now, especially with the training I’m doing, to show up to spring training and do my best.”
Jones, who played his first full season in Double A in 2024, certainly experienced the ups and downs of hitting. While the 23-year-old showed flashes of elite power (he finished with 17 home runs, 30 doubles and 78 RBIs in 122 games), the huge red flag was his plate discipline. Jones struck out a whopping 200 times, setting a franchise record for a Yankee minor leaguer, and his 36.8 percent strikeout rate was the highest among qualified Double-A hitters.
The good news for Jones is that he possesses more than just power: He also displayed intriguing speed last season, stealing 25 bases. The Yankees expect Jones to further improve those tools, along with outfield athleticism, this season. He is an exciting local talent capable of thriving in the middle of the lineup.
The other obvious benefit? He is a young, cost-controlled player available to the Yankees while their championship window remains open. Jones has a bright future, but only time will tell if he can conquer the Triple-A level and force the issue. However, he expresses optimism based on a recent instagram story showing his work in the cage.
“I’ve been working a lot this offseason on some new patterns, some new drills,” Jones said. “I feel like we’ve gotten to a point with my swing this offseason where I’m ready to share it a little bit and I’m excited for people to see it in games… At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter where you play, always and when you are the player you want to be… I believe that talent and hard work come from the top, and my job is to let the performance back it up.”