This most recent New York Yankees report isn't the best news for Spencer Jones.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones is hoping to make the big-league roster for the first time in his career, but the chances of Jones being in the Yankees' dugout for Opening Day are looking slimmer and slimmer.
On Tuesday, Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported that New York is still looking for a righty bat to bring off the bench, preferably in the outfield.
Randal Grichuk has been floated as a possibility for the Yankees, which makes sense considering his lifetime .819 OPS against left-handers.
The fact that New York is still searching for another outfield bat — and one that hits from the right side, no less — is yet more evidence that Jones will not be making the roster out of Spring Training.
Jones is a lefty himself, and during his breakout 35-homer campaign in 2025, he slashed a paltry .189/.318/.344 against southpaws.
So not only does he fit the Yankees' criteria in that sense, but New York also surely wants him getting everyday reps, which is something he certainly would not get as a fourth outfielder.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones. Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.The Yanks' outfield currently consists of Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge. Jones does have a chance to unseat Grisham at some point in 2026, but the Yankees definitely aren't benching Grisham right out of the gate.
It seems pretty evident that the Bronx Bombers will be sending both Jones and Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A to start the season, which is somewhat disappointing considering the hype surrounding both young outfielders.
But circumstances have dictated that New York's best bet is to begin the upcoming campaign two of its top young talents in the minor leagues.
Jones turns 25 years old in May and still has not yet reached the big leagues, which has become a source of contention for Yankees fans who are beginning to lose patience with the 6-foot-7 slugger.
New York selected Jones with the 25th overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. Jones has been incredibly hyped ever since, but he has fallen short of expectations, sliding out of the top 100 on most prospect boards this year.
Perhaps Jones will get a chance to play in the majors at some point in 2026, but it's looking less and less likely that it will be on Opening Day.
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