3 sneaky Yankees players who could impact second half of 2023 season

Elijah Dunham (While We All Watch Spencer Jones)

You want it to be Spencer Jones. You need it to be Spencer Jones. But the 2022 first-round pick is still just 21 years old, and even as he conquers High-A, it would be difficult to envision the Yankees going wild and elevating him above Double-A by the end of this season (which, hopefully, would be the corresponding move for Jasson Dominguez's promotion to Scranton).

While all eyes will certainly be on Jones as he attempts to overcome physical precedent (Aaron Judge and Dave Winfield excluded) and race through the minors, Scranton's Elijah Dunham is the more likely Yankees outfield prospect to get a second-half opportunity.

The Athletic's Chris Kirschner pinpointed Dunham's slow start in a recent column about left field options and, at the time, he was 100% correct. Then, Dunham went on a weekend tear to raise his OPS 50 points and officially put himself back on the map.

Dunham is -- you guessed it! -- a lefty bat with a power-speed profile. Last summer with Somerset, he ripped 17 homers and stole 37 bags, still somehow flying under the radar. He wasn't Volpe, who he shared a roster with. He wasn't Dominguez, who showed up before the playoffs. He wasn't even the most prominent speedster in his own outfield -- that was supposed to be the eternally overlooked Brandon Lockridge, who finished 19 stolen bases behind Dunham.

Dunham got the call to Triple-A first, though, and after a difficult few weeks, appears to be finding his footing on offense and defense. It's no surprise Jake Bauers got the call first, but don't be stunned if Dunham's next in line, especially with a little 40-man roster flexibility in the bullpen and outfield picture (sorry, Franchy).