Spencer Jones: The Yankees’ Cody Bellinger?
Micheael Mazza
1/17/2024
Spencer Jones: The Yankees’ Cody Bellinger
Spencer Jones: The Yankees’ Cody Bellinger
Spencer Jones, the Yankees’s #2 prospect in their organization, is one of the fastest-rising stars in the making. Jones, who went to Vanderbilt, was drafted by the Yankees in the first round at pick number 25. Jones shot up through the system over the last year and a half and has proven it. He finished his 2024 season for the Yankees Double-A team at Somerset.
He has put up some impressive numbers throughout his time in the minors. He completely tore the cover off the ball with the Yankees Florida Coast League. His line was most impressive for such a young kid. He posted a .500/.545/.900 line with an OPS of 1.445. He was then called up to the Yankees Single A team, the Tampa Tarpons, where he also put up a very impressive line. He posted a .325/.411/.494 line with an OPS of .905. Yes, there was a slight decrease in numbers, but it was still awe-inspiring nonetheless. This past season, he started for the Yankees Single A+ team, the Hudson Valley Renegades, and posted a line of .268/.337/.450 with an OPS of .787. When he moved up to the Yankees Double-A team the Somerset Patriots, he posted a line of .261/.333/.406 and an OPS of .739. Spencer Jones is one of the Yankees’ most valuable assets. He is being asked for in trades by multiple teams. The Yankees value Jones just as much as any other team that wants to acquire the 22-year-old phenom. What would make Spencer Jones’ value go up even more? Well, the answer is simple: make him a multiple-position player. That’s what the Yankees are looking to do. They are looking to add 1B to his resume.
Spencer Jones is at first base; why not? The Yankees have excess outfielders in Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, Judge, Soto, Trent Grisham, Everson Pereira, and Alex Verdugo. The Yankees are very
high on Spencer Jones’ ability to play both center field and first base as we advance. They will look to get him reps at first base during the 2024 season before Rizzo leaves in 2025.
How do you keep all of Spencer Jones, Dominguez, Judge, and Soto’s bats in the lineup in 2025 and beyond? The simple answer is to give Spencer Jones reps at 1st base and Centerfield alla Cody Bellinger. Cody Bellinger is seen as an elite defender at both positions. Jones is always compared to Cody Bellinger due to his athletic ability. Jones is a bigger, stronger, and faster version of Cody Bellinger and can be a gold-glove-caliber fielder at both positions. This makes it much easier for the Yankees to have a lineup of Dominguez, Judge, Soto, and Jones as the top 4 and just a powerhouse of a lineup going forward. If the Yankees can successfully turn Spencer Jones into a 1B/CF, they could be looking at their very own version of Cody Bellinger.