Baseball America's Spencer Jones snub gives another Yankees prospect the spotlight

It's the end of Year 3, and prospect experts still have no idea what to do with Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees. At least 2025 was eye-popping enough for Jones to steal some headlines and change some minds in July. His 11-homer month and Triple-A rise got him back in the good graces of the Prospect Literati, and he's more than likely going to crack a few Top 100 lists after slugging 35 home runs this season and translating his BP power to in-game pop.

Still ... when his strikeout percentage rose precipitously again in September (and his struggles mounted), it felt like some folks were foaming at the mouth to drop a few "told you so's".

If Jones makes it to the majors and overcomes his penchant for whiffing, it will make history in some form. The 2022 first-rounder remains far from a sure thing. In fact, historical data will tell you that it's still unlikely that he's ever able to overcome his biggest flaw.

The summer surge did feel like it popped enough eyes to make him the Yankees' Minor-League Player of the Year, though, regardless of future certainty. But Baseball America ... disagreed. They bestowed the honor upon Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz on Monday, putting their formal "Interesting Trade!" stamp on the Carlos Narvaez deal and giving Yankee fans something else to dream on.

Yankees' Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz named Baseball America's Organizational Player of the Year over Spencer Jones

There's no disputing that ERC had a phenomenal season. In 150 innings (and possibly counting, with a Scranton playoff cameo in his future), he struck out 176 batters and went 11-8 with a 2.58 ERA at the age of 22. His big, bending curveball will receive a Triple-A test next season, but he seems to be the most polished and pro-ready arm atop the system. He outdueled Mets phenom Jonah Tong head-to-head twice in one week this summer.

But there was a moment in July and August when naming anyone other than Jones the Yankees' prospect of the year would've sounded ludicrous. Prospect experts have always preferred to look in some other Yankee's direction when given the chance, though, considering Jones' worrisome floor and historically unprecedented profile. It shouldn't be surprising that Baseball America favored something more familiar.