What is Spencer Jones' pathway to MLB debut with the Yankees?

The Yankees are beginning to flip the narrative on their farm system, asthey now boast several top prospects after long being labeled as one of the worst minor league organizations.

One such prospect is Spencer Jones, whom the Yankees drafted back in the first round of the 2022 draft. The former Vanderbilt Commodore has lived up to the expectations placed on him three years ago, as he is now ranked the second-best prospect in the Yankees system, trailing only the electric George Lombard Jr. as he attempts to push through to the upper levels of the minors.

Jones is currently in Double-A Somerset, where he is hitting .241 with an OPS of .905 to go along with 12 homers and 22 RBI. The average is a little low, but he has still shown great control of his strike zone, posting an 18% walk rate. His cumulative OBP is .359.

The issue for Jones so far this season, and throughout his entire professional career, has been the strikeouts: He is striking out 42% of the time, struggling to consistently put the bat on the ball with his long, aggressive swing. There's no questioning the damage he can do when he puts the ball in play, but he will need to improve his contact rates if he wants to see big-league action soon.

Standing at a towering 6'7" and weighing in at 240 pounds, Spencer Jones is an imposing physical specimen who some fans have monikered the "lefty Aaron Judge." Judge, now the best player in baseball and arguably the greatest right-handed hitter in history, also had his struggles with strikeouts when he first turned pro. Players with builds like Jones and Judge have longer swings, leading to more swing and miss. What has made Judge the slugger we know today is how he has been able to keep his swing compact and his barrel in the zone, improving both his contact rate and quality of contact.

While there's no question Judge is a unicorn among men, if Jones can learn from the big number 99, he could become a fearsome hitter at the big league level. Besides his eye in the box and his light-tower power, Jones has played quality defense in center field and has showcased the ability to steal a base here-and-there, swiping eight bags already this year.

Some fans are clamoring for the 24-year-old to be a September call-up, but I find the odds of that happening highly unlikely. The Yankees do not rush prospects, especially when the team is performing as well as they are now. Jones will likely round out the year in Triple-A, before having a realistic shot at the roster come next spring. However, a few things have to happen before Jones can find his way to the Bronx.

What needs to happen for Spencer Jones to make his way to the big leagues with the Yankees

First off, it's important to acknowledge that, as of right now, there is no opening for Jones at the big league level. The Yankees already possess a strong four-man outfield. Some things are going to have to give.

Both Paul Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham are free agents following the 2025 season, and, should either of them leave, a spot could open for Jones.

Jones has shown he can play all three outfield positions, but also has tentative experience at first base, though he hasn't played there since turning pro. It's highly unlikely that he would replace Ben Rice at first should Goldschmidt leave, but, if Grisham departs, Jones could easily have a shot to be part of the four-man outfield for 2026.

Should he make the big club, Jones would then compete with the likes of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger (pending a 2026 player option), and Jasson Dominguez for playing time. With Bellinger's versatility, as well as Judge and Dominguez seeing DH days as well as just straight-up off days, Jones could see a sizable amount of at-bats, even if he is the fourth outfielder.

The path to a debut at Yankee Stadium is not one that will be easily traversed by Jones, but nothing ever is when you are with a competitive organization like the Yankees. I have faith that the "lefty Aaron Judge" will make the necessary improvements to his game and that we could see him donning the Yankee pinstripes in the Bronx sooner rather than later.