New York Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones has been turning heads this spring training, but fans hoping to see him in the majors soon might have to wait a bit longer. With Giancarlo Stanton sidelined indefinitely due to tennis elbow in both arms and currently away from camp for personal reasons, the Yankees are exploring options to fill the DH role. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt are early favorites to step in, but Jones, a consensus top-5 prospect in the Yankees’ system, isn’t expected to be part of the solution—at least not yet.
MLB insider Jon Heyman reported this week that Jones “isn’t a candidate” for the big-league roster right now. “The deep-thinking Jones … revamped his swing and is still seen as ‘in development,’” Heyman wrote in the *New York Post*. It’s unclear where the 23-year-old, 6-foot-6, 235-pound slugger will start the season after hitting .259 with 17 home runs, 78 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 124 games at Double-A Somerset last year. Jones did grab attention earlier this spring with an impressive opposite-field home run, but he remains a work in progress.
With Stanton out, the Yankees need outfield depth beyond their DH options. Two-time Gold Glove winner Trent Grisham is behind schedule due to a hamstring injury, and utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who played every position except center field and catcher last year, could see more action. Top-100 prospect Everson Pereira might also get a look, though the Yankees may prefer he continue developing with everyday at-bats at Triple-A.
The Yankees could also explore external options. Mets outfielder Starling Marte was a potential trade target before a lingering knee injury complicated matters. Alternatively, they could sign six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez, though he’s strictly a DH at this stage of his career. For now, Jones remains a promising prospect for the future, but the Yankees will need to find a more immediate solution to fill the void left by Stanton.
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