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Yankees Give Spencer Jones a Center-Field Look in Spring Debut

The move tests a route to playing time on a crowded roster with an Opening Day spot still unlikely.

Overview

  • The 6-foot-7 prospect made his first Grapefruit League start in center field for New York on Saturday.
  • He crushed a Statcast-measured 408-foot home run at 111.7 mph off Keider Montero in his first at-bat, drawing Shohei Ohtani swing comparisons on MLB platforms.
  • Jones hit 35 homers across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, though swing-and-miss rates remain the primary concern in his profile.
  • Team evaluations note he is currently blocked by Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge in the outfield mix, with Jasson Domínguez also vying for time.
  • Reporting continues to indicate a likely Triple-A assignment or non–Opening Day role, with center-field reps offering an alternate path if an opportunity arises.