Spencer Jones: Everything you need to know

Jones went 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in an exhibition loss to the Cubs on Monday. Jones didn't start, but he still made a big splash after entering as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning. The young slugger belted a solo homer in his first plate appearance and added a two-run shot in his second. Jones leads the Yankees with six long balls and 11 RBI during the exhibition slate, and he's posted a sensational 1.621 OPS over 12 games. He'll begin the campaign at Triple-A, but there's a good chance he'll make his regular-season big-league debut at some point in 2026.

The Yankees optioned Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Jones has had a big spring, going 6-for-18 with three home runs, three stolen bases and a 4:6 BB:K. There's no room for him in the Yankees' outfield, however, and the 24-year-old also needs to continue working on making more contact after striking out at a 36.6 percent rate with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2025.

Through five Grapefruit League games, Jones is slashing .300/.417/1.200 with three home runs, six RBI, five runs and one stolen base. Jones leads the Yankees in long balls this spring and ranks second in RBI. The young slugger had a similarly impressive exhibition slate last year, when he belted three home runs over 32 at-bats, though he also struck out 16 times. Jones has been a little better in that regard this spring with a 2:4 BB:K over 12 plate appearances, but it's likely strikeouts will always be part of his game. With that said, Jones was added to the 40-man roster in November after accumulating a .933 OPS with 35 homers, 80 RBI and 29 thefts across 506 plate appearances between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2025, and there's a good chance he'll make his MLB debut at some point this season, though it's likely he'll begin the campaign in Triple-A.