Yankees' Spencer Jones has completely unlocked an overlooked tool at Triple-A

Spencer Jones' qualifications for winning July International League Player of the Month honors were astoundingly obvious, and his .419 average, 1.423 OPS and 11 bombs were more than enough to take home the trophy. But though the Yankees top prospect's calling card has long been his absurd power, believers in Jones have clung to his other impressive tools as the reason he deserves a big-league chance, even if the strikeouts never go away.

Jones is both a plus defender in center field and possesses plus speed. Even if his in-game power never manifested in the minors, he still deserved to be a top-100 guy on MLB's radar, according to his diehards. After all, even if it never clicked, he would've had value in covering ground and disrupting on the bases.

Now, it's clicking. After hitting just 17 homers last year with a 36.8% K percentage at Double-A, he has 29 bombs on the year with a more sustainable 30% even strikeout rate. That rate has been reduced to 24.2% at Triple-A, where he has 13 home runs in 28 games. If not for a set of ill-timed back spasms, we might've even seen him in Aaron Judge's stead last week (he returned on July 29 and, to be fair, went 5-for-28 without a homer in his first nine games played).

It's not just the mind-blowing pop that's manifested in the high minors, though. For whatever reason, Jones' speed and aggression has also been on display in Scranton more than it's ever been. He's stolen three more bases at Triple-A than Double-A in 21 fewer games this year, and the should-be-lumbering 6'7" titan has only been caught twice.

Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones is more confident on the bases at Triple-A, and it's working

Though the Yankees didn't trade Trent Grisham at the deadline (Eds. Note: Good! That would've sucked!), the slugging center fielder will still be departing this offseason to upgrade on his "fourth outfielder" role elsewhere. Even if Cody Bellinger returns (Eds. Note: He should!), there will be room for Jones at the MLB level next year.

And if he's believing in himself enough to run wild on the base paths while showing off his immense power daily, then the Yankees should probably clear a path to see what he's got.