Spencer Jones, a top prospect for the New York Yankees, said on March 11 that he will begin the upcoming baseball season in the Minor Leagues, despite a strong showing during spring training. The decision comes as the Yankees’ outfield roster is already set, leaving Jones to continue his development with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The move is significant for both Jones and the team, as he remains one of their most promising young players. While he expressed disappointment at not making the Major League roster, Jones said he is focused on improving his skills and taking advantage of future opportunities. “It is what it is,” Jones said before a Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. “I’ve got a lot of good work to do, and then obviously I’ve got a whole long season ahead of us. So opportunities are available, and it’s just about taking advantage of them.”
Jones made an immediate impact in Tuesday’s game by hitting his fourth home run of the spring in his first at-bat. He was selected by the Yankees as their first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft and is currently ranked as their No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline. “Obviously, I want to do whatever I can in camp to make a good impression,” Jones said. “I feel like I’ve made great impressions. It’s just part of it, and part of the story.”
With established players Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge holding starting roles in the outfield, both Jones and fellow prospect Jasson DomÃnguez are expected to start this season with Triple-A affiliates despite strong performances during spring training.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone advised Jones not to focus on factors beyond his control but acknowledged his progress: “There’s still improvements that he needs to make in his game,” Boone said. “And the good thing is, he’s done that… He had a really good platform year at the upper levels last year… He’s knocking on that door.” Boone also noted improvements in Jones’s approach at bat this spring.
Reflecting on last season’s statistics across Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre—where he hit .274 with notable power numbers—Jones emphasized consistency moving forward: “Now it’s just about repeating and being who I am, and being more consistent.” He added that offseason adjustments inspired by Shohei Ohtani have helped him feel more stable at the plate: “I think there’s still more to come with it, and it’s only going to get better and better as we move forward.”