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Yankees' Spencer Jones Slammed With Brutal Reality Check
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- Yankees' Spencer Jones Slammed With Brutal Reality Check
(Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
Spencer Jones was one of the primary bright spots in what was an otherwise dull 2026 MLB campaign for the New York Yankees .
The 25-year-old made his long-awaited major-league debut this season and slashed .245/.313/.429 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI over 289 plate appearances. He also stole 10 bases, and it's also worth noting that he led all hitters with an insane 22.2 percent barrel rate after the All-Star break.
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However, not everyone is sold on Jones.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post recently revealed some intel from MLB talent evaluators who aren't sure on Jones' long-term outlook.
While they definitely see 40-homer potential in the 6-foot-7, 240-pound slugger, they are worried that his strikeout rate (36.3 percent in 2026) will have him out of the league within a few years.
Sherman added that Jones' trade value is not as high as you would think as a result. Not that the Yankees were considering trading Jones, but it's still worth mentioning.
My thoughts? I think Jones will be just fine.
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Yes, his punchout rate is astronomically high, but he posted a respectable 8.7 percent walk rate during his rookie campaign, a number I anticipate will increase as he matures.
Jones is particularly susceptible to the high fastball, and you already know the Yankees will be working with him to repair that during the offseason.
There is also a whole lot to like about the outfielder.
He posted a ridiculous hard-hit rate of 53.8 percent this season, and his line-drive rate was at 27.4 percent. Furthermore, his bat speed was 77.1 mph, and his average exit velocity was 94.0 mph.
Jones hits lasers, and when he makes contact, good things typically happen as evidenced by his .363 BABIP that is not as fluky as it appears (you tend to find gaps when you hit the ball like a rocket launcher).
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I do think Jones is more suited for a corner outfield spot than center field, as he does have some difficulty tracking the ball and he sometimes looks clumsy defensively. But given his athleticism and his arm strength, I think he'll be just fine in right field once Aaron Judge eventually settles into a DH role (which could be sooner rather than later).
And remember: Jones has stolen over 40 bases in the minor leagues before, so he has the potential to be a terror on the basepaths in the majors, as well.
Jones is definitely rough around the edges, but I'm confident that the former top prospect will develop into a terrific player in the Bronx.
