By Shaun McAvoyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberDespite being one of the New York Yankees' most highly touted prospects, outfield slugger Spencer Jones won't make his big league debut anytime soon.
Jones has been one of the Yankees' most intriguing prospects since being selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, drawing comparisons to superstar Aaron Judge. Despite the hype, the 24-year-old was optioned to Triple-A earlier this week with no clear path to consistent playing time for New York.
As Jones' placement on the depth plummets, so has his potential trade value, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.
“Jones is next on the organizational depth chart behind Dominguez,” Castillo wrote on Monday. “He turns 25 in May, has yet to make his major league debut, and is a virtual lock to begin the season in Triple-A. While he’s a true center fielder with some of the biggest pop in the minors -- he slugged 35 home runs last season -- Jones hasn’t debuted because he whiffs too much.
“He compiled 179 strikeouts last season after 200 in 2024. His 35.4% strikeout rate last season would’ve ranked highest in the majors. The glaring shortcoming, combined with his age, resulted in him falling off recent top 100 prospect lists and his trade value sinking. But he should receive the call in 2026 -- whether with the Yankees or another club -- if he remains healthy.”
Jones wouldn't benefit much from sitting on New York's bench behind Judge, Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, so having more time to develop in Triple-A should be helpful. The towering outfielder boasts a rare combination of raw power and speed, but his age and strikeout issues will keep the Yankees from getting a big return in a potential trade.
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