The New York Yankees are already facing some pressure when it comes to Spencer Jones.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones tore the cover off the ball in Spring Training, hitting .357 while smashing six home runs and posting a 1.526 OPS.
His reward? A demotion to Triple-A.
Jones' demotion was hardly surprising. The Yankees' outfield is already full with Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger at the corners and Trent Grisham in center. But New York is certainly feeling the hit when it comes to the towering 6-foot-7 prospect.
Jones has already homered in the minor leagues this season and will almost surely put together another spectacular power display in 2026 after hammering 35 long balls a year ago. The problem is that there is no room for him on the big-league roster.
At least not right now.
Judge and Bellinger aren't going anywhere. We know that. Grisham is probably staying put as well thanks to his $22 million salary. But if there is anyone who could get replaced, it's him.
Grisham was horrendous in Spring Training, and heading into the Yankees' Monday night matchup with the Seattle Mariners, he was just 2-for-9 through three games. Obviously, it's an incredibly small sample size, but you do have to wonder just how patient New York will be with Grisham this year.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones. Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.Another issue for Jones, however, is that he may not even be the first outfielder called up to the big leagues this season. That title probably belongs to Jasson Dominguez, who was also optioned to Triple-A following a torrid stretch in the spring.
Dominguez has major-league experience already, so the Yanks may give him priority if he performs well in the minors, regardless of his flaws.
But how much longer can the Yankees afford to keep Jones at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre?
Jones turns 25 years old in May, and the more New York delays his promotion, the more his value will dip. Teams aren't going to view a 25-year-old as much of a prospect anymore. So shouldn't he actually be prioritized over the 23-year-old Dominguez?
That's especially considering that Jones actually can play center field at an elite level, whereas Dominguez is a corner outfielder ... and a bad one, at that.
There is no question that Brian Cashman and Yankees brass are facing some pressure when it comes to Jones, and if the Vanderbilt product continues to rake in New York's system, then the Bronx Bombers may have no choice but to give him the call.
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