The Yankees have Spencer Jones knocking on the door for their Opening Day roster, and it’s his light-tower power that’s got everyone’s attention.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com named the 24-year-old left-handed slugger as one of the organization’s most intriguing prospects to watch heading into 2026. With Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge locked in, the Yankees still need to figure out their third outfield spot.
Sure, they could re-sign Cody Bellinger or add another veteran. Jasson Dominguez remains in the mix too. But Jones is making a compelling case with his bat.
“With light-tower power and improved consistency, Jones is knocking on the big league door with a legitimate chance to force his way onto the Opening Day roster.”
The numbers back up Hoch’s assessment. Jones posted a .274 average with a .933 OPS split between Triple-A and Double-A last season. In 116 games, he launched 35 home runs with 80 RBIs and 58 walks.
Those strikeouts are the elephant in the room though. 179 strikeouts in 116 games tells you everything about the swing-and-miss in his game right now.
What Makes This Interesting
The Yankees don’t exactly need more power with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton already in the lineup. But having that kind of threat later in the batting order? That’s where things get interesting.
Even a platoon role could work. Getting Jones’ pop into the lineup on a regular basis has obvious appeal, especially if he can clean up some of those strikeout issues during spring training.
There’s also the trade angle to consider. Jones has come up in discussions, particularly if Bellinger does return and crowds the outfield picture. But for now, he’s looking like the Yankees’ most intriguing internal option.
A strong showing in camp could force the organization’s hand. Sometimes raw power creates it’s own opportunities, and Jones has plenty of that to work with.
