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'I want to do damage': Yankees' 6-foot-6 prospect Spencer Jones has his eyes on New York
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- 'I want to do damage': Yankees' 6-foot-6 prospect Spencer Jones has his eyes on New York
The reports on New York Yankees prospect Spencer Jones have been glowing.
His skillset has been called "an intriguing combination of power and uncommon athleticism," by MLB.com, which also said he features "well-above-average raw power" in his 6'6", 235-pound frame.
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FanGraphs, which during the preseason had Jones ranked as the 15thbest prospect in the game, said he might be "a top-five prospect a year from now."
Add these reviews to a Yankees fanbase salivating to see him patrol the same outfield as the player he is most often compared to, Aaron Judge (due to their heights), and you would think the 23-year-old from Encinitas, Calif. may be feeling overwhelmed.
But you would be wrong.
According to Jones, who is currently patrolling center field for the Class AA Somerset Patriots, he isn't feeling much pressure at all. In fact, he's mostly oblivious.
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"I don't do too much of the reading on it," Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "I try to stay off my phone as much as possible. I look at the things that I need to look at on there. Other than that, I am not wasting time scrolling."
Spencer Jones during a spring training game in March.
While it may sound far-fetched to think Jones has been largely immune to the chatter, Patriots teammate Ben Rice backed him up.
"One hundred percent," said the Somerset catcher who attended Dartmouth. "He's in his own world in the best way possible."
The Yankees' first-round pick in 2022, Jones had a stellar 2023 season with 16 homers with 66 RBI, swiping an organization-best 43 bases. In his first at-bat of spring training, Jones connected on a 470-foot bomb to right-center.
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The blast, which Anthony Volpe called "jaw-dropping," drew the attention of additional Bronx Bombers fans, some of whom realized they may soon be rooting for another unicorn.
His skills are that unique.
"My game impacts both sides of the field; I never want to be a one-dimensional player," said Jones, a two-way prospect out of high school who became a full-time hitter after Tommy John surgery during his time at Vanderbilt.
"A lot of tools," said Somerset manager Raul Dominguez. "(He's) an outfielder with good speed, good reads in the outfield – really, really good arm. Offensively, I believe he is going to be a contact player with a lot of power."
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Said Rice: "The thing that sticks out the most is that he's got all five tools with that kind of build. To see a guy like that move as well as he does, and as naturally as he does, is really cool. He's just a very special athlete."
Dominguez is also impressed with Jones' mobility and speed.
"That's going to help him in the future by stealing bases, by running the bases, by getting good plays in the outfield," said Dominguez. "This is a special gift that he has."
Defensively, Jones has shown the instincts and arm strength to project as a plus centerfielder at the next levels, but it's his ability at the plate which will most impact the trajectory of his career.
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"On the offensive side, I want to do damage," said Jones.
Cutting down on his strikeout percentage, which currently hovers about 35%, is of major importance.
It's a work in progress for Jones, and Dominguez, who said he sees Jones "in the cage early trying to get some extra (reps)," sees a positive outcome for his slugger.
"Earlier or later, he's going to make that click," said Dominguez.
Outfielder Spencer Jones of the Somerset Patriots looks out onto field during pregame at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ - May 18, 2024
Off the field, Jones is a popular teammate who Rice described as a "level-headed, chill guy."
Rice, who has ascended the Yankees organization with Jones, enjoys his laid-back demeanor.
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"He's just free and easy," said Rice. "If you ask him, hey 'What's up?' He goes, 'Hey, I'm cruisin' brother.' He's always just cruisin'."
Jones described himself as "a little goofy" and says he enjoys being social.
"I like being around people and making memories," said Jones. "Ultimately, I want to be the best version of myself, as a human being and not just as a baseball player."
Sparky Lyle, the iconic Yankees reliever and 1977 AL Cy Young award winner first met Jones at a team dinner earlier this season and raved about the experience.
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"He was the nicest kid you would ever want to meet," said Lyle who holds the title of Manager Emeritus with the Patriots.
Now, as Jones looks to improve his game, and continue to impress - both on and off the field, you can add one more important goal to his list.
He wants to become an Italian citizen.
"There is enough in my family to make that a realistic possibility," said Jones. "My family is very excited about it, especially my nonna, who loves our Italian heritage."
Jones' personality and off-field goals are noteworthy, but they won't matter to Yankee fans without production between the white lines.
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"I think he's got the tools to be a really good hitter, and I think he's got the tools to be a guy with a lot of power that produces with a lot of slug." said Rice. "I think he's going to be a guy that you could feel comfortable putting in any spot in the lineup."
His manager agrees with the assessment.
"I know in the future he is going to be that type of player who is going to do a lot of damage - just like the guys in the big leagues, in New York," said Dominguez. "That's what I see in Spencer Jones."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spencer Jones, Yankees top prospect, wants to 'do damage'
