The New York Yankees enter spring training with many questions again, and with some of the questions come difficult decisions. While much of the focus has centered on returning veterans, there seems to be some battles taking place in left field, and it remains one to watch for Yankees fans.
With Cody Bellinger back in the mix, playing time is much different, not just for veterans, but for two of the hopeful Yankees' future stars. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Spencer Jones was expected to be firmly in the mix for a starting role before the Bellinger signing, and same for Jasson Dominguez, but both could fight for a job now.
“Also potentially displaced by Bellinger’s return is Spencer Jones, who turns 25 in May and had been expected to challenge Domínguez for the starting left-field job this spring,” Hoch wrote.
Once viewed as a long-term project with huge physical tools, Jones is now close enough to the majors that it’s tough to say he shouldn’t get a shot.
“Coming off a productive showing at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, in which he belted 35 home runs and posted a .933 OPS (but also struck out 179 times in 438 at-bats), Jones could continue to log development time, but Cashman acknowledged he would’ve been promoted in other organizations already,” Hoch added.
The Yankees haven’t rushed prospects in recent years, but when they have, it hasn’t always gone well. However, even Brian Cashman said that Jones’ track record would likely have put him on a roster for a different team.
“He’s an exciting young talent that’s, again, unproven at the Major League level,” Cashman said of Jones, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Yanks' No. 4 prospect. “We’re going to find out at some point -- or somebody else would find out at some point, if they pry him away from me.”
For Dominguez, the situation adds another piece to an already important spring. It hurts to say, and I know there are injuries that didn’t help, but Dominguez has just been so average.
If Jones were to completely outplay him, I think we could see him win the job.