New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones apparently isn't impressing a whole lot of people.
There was a time when New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones was viewed as a mythical creature within the organization, and I guess some Yankees fans still see him that way.
But how Jones is perceived in the Bronx is clearly very different from how he is regarded around the league as a whole.
Formerly a top-50 prospect across several major publications, Jones has fallen out of the top 100 entirely on most lists, as he is turning 25 years old this May and still has not yet hit the big-league level.
Jones has been enjoying an impressive Spring Training, having already homered three times as he attempts to battle for a spot on the major-league roster, but in the process, he just watched himself fall on yet another prospect list.
MLB.com just recently its top 30 prospects for the Yankees, and Jones came in at No. 6, two spots lower than his positioning a year ago. He has also dropped four slots since 2024 when he was the No. 2-ranked farmhand in the system.
Jones was not surprisingly voted as the player with the best power within the minor-league organization, but what may shock you is that he was only given a 65 rating in that regard, which is considered "plus." In order to get into the "well above average" category, Jones would have had to tally at least a 70 rating.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.So apparently, scouts don't even think Jones' power is well above average, this even though the left-handed slugger smashed 35 home runs in 2025.
Jones was originally selected by New York with the 25th overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. He slashed .267/.366/.444 with 16 homers and 66 RBI between Single-A and Double-A during his debut campaign in the Yankees' farm system.
Then, in 2024, Jones didn't show the progression most hoped, slashing .259/.336/.452 with 17 long balls and 78 RBI at Double-A. He finally broke out with a .932 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last season, but was it too little, too late for Jones?
While Jones is a terrific defender in center field and has excellent speed on the basepaths, his strikeouts (179 Ks over 506 plate appearances in 2025) remain a prominent issue.
The general expectation is that Jones will make his big-league debut at some point in 2026, but he will likely begin the season at Triple-A.
We'll see if Jones is ever able to live up to his initial lofty expectations.
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