DUNEDIN, Fla. — Even after coming off a troublesome season within the minors, Spencer Jones is aware of how you can begin massive league camp with a bang.
For the second straight yr, the Yankees’ prime outfield prospect homered in his first Grapefruit League recreation, as Jones belted an opposite-field, two-run shot Saturday in a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark.
“Not a lot of guys hit a ball like that,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned of the curveball that Jones took the opposite approach off the bat at 104.5 mph in opposition to Blue Jays minor league righty Eric Pardinho.
Jones, the Yankees’ first-round decide in 2022, had a robust first massive league camp final spring earlier than taking his lumps through the common season, hanging out 200 occasions in 544 plate appearances at Double-Some time posting a .789 OPS.
However the 6-foot-6 Jones and the Yankees are hoping he can use that season to his benefit in the long term because it pressured him to make some changes — together with some to his swing late within the yr — alongside the way in which.
“I took a lot of positives from last year,” Jones mentioned after going 1-for-2 with a stroll and a strikeout trying. “I knew after I was hitting the ball, good issues have been taking place and defensively I used to be getting the job achieved and I performed loads of video games. That was crucial factor for me.
As for chopping down his strikeouts, Jones mentioned he deliberate on having nearer communication together with his hitting coaches between every at-bat.
“Talking about what I’m looking for, what pitches I’m hunting and getting me in that right headspace to attack the pitches I’m looking for,” Jones mentioned. “I feel like when I’m in the right position to hit, I have a great eye and that’s what I’m working on.”
Regardless of the tough 2024, the Yankees nonetheless imagine within the potential of Jones, who since he was drafted has garnered comparisons to Aaron Decide due to their dimension.
“The thing with Spencer is, the ceiling is enormous because it’s real defense, it’s real power, it’s real speed,” Boone mentioned. “It looks like he has the ability to control the strike zone. But it’s just going to be harnessing that size a little bit, and that swing.”
Carlos Rodón is bringing his beard again and, he hopes, among the greatest pitching he did with it.
The left-hander’s command was not sharp in his spring debut Saturday, giving up 5 hits and three runs throughout 2 ²/₃ innings and 48 pitches.
However he took it as one other constructing block to prepare for the season, coming off a strong yr during which he posted a 3.96 ERA throughout 32 begins.
“I set a high standard for myself,” Rodón mentioned. “I know I can be better. I pitched well last year, but I wouldn’t be the player I am if I didn’t think I could be better than last year and years past. Obviously, there’s a lot of variables that go into that, but I know what I’m capable of and I really want to show that. I want to show the reason why the Yankees signed me.”
Jones’ house run was arrange by Everson Pereira extending the inning with the Yankees’ first ABS problem of the spring.
On a full depend with two outs, home-plate umpire Adam Beck known as a strike three, however Pereira tapped his helmet to problem the pitch, which replays confirmed was exterior of the zone.
So Pereira took first base after which watched Jones go deep.
“I thought it was a good moment in the game to ask for a replay there,” Pereira mentioned by means of an interpreter.
