Spencer Jones is expected to fill the roster spot left by Jasson Dominguez, who is heading to the injured list after a serious crash. Jones, a 6-foot-7 center fielder prospect, has shown promise with his hitting and defense.
Key points
Jasson Dominguez is going to the injured list.
Spencer Jones is expected to be called up to the Yankees.
Dominguez suffered a low-grade AC left shoulder sprain.
Jones was a first-round pick in 2022.
Jones has shown power, speed, and defensive skills.
It was obvious that Dominguez was headed for the injured list after he made the best catch of the Yankees’ season.
It also was pretty obvious that the open roster spot would be filled by Jones, a left-handed hitter whose journey from 2022 first-round pick to big leaguer has been defined by homers, stolen bases, elite defense and a lot of striking out.
Dominguez is headed for the 10-day IL with a low-grade, AC left shoulder sprain and he’s still in concussion protocol after passing initial tests, manager Aaron Boone announced.
Scratched from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s game at Worcester on Thursday night, Jones, 24, is headed to the big leagues after putting up huge power numbers. In 33 games, he hit .258 with 11 homers, 41 RBI and a .958 OPS.
For Friday’s game against the Brewers, Yankees -1.5 runline is listed at +136 onFanDuel. Our completeFanDuel Sportsbook reviewshows you how to navigate through their app.
Here’s what catcher J.C. Escarra had to say about Jones: “Spencer has some things that he needs to fine tune, but once he does, he could be a superstar in this game.”
Q&A
What happened to Jasson Dominguez in the Yankees game?
Jasson Dominguez crashed into the outfield wall, resulting in a low-grade AC left shoulder sprain and he is currently in concussion protocol.
Who is Spencer Jones and why is he important for the Yankees?
Spencer Jones is a 6-foot-7 center fielder prospect and a first-round pick from 2022, expected to make his MLB debut following Dominguez's injury.
What are Spencer Jones's strengths as a player?
Spencer Jones is known for his power hitting, speed on the bases, elite defensive skills, but he has also struggled with strikeouts.
How long is Jasson Dominguez expected to be out for?
Jasson Dominguez is heading to the 10-day injured list, but the exact duration of his recovery is still uncertain.
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Here’s more from Cody Bellinger: “It’s a large man who hits the ball very far. Honestly, freak athlete, too.”
And more from Ryan McMahon: “I’m a big fan of Spencer.”
We’ll probably begin seeing what Jones can do as a big leaguer on Friday night. He’ll be with the Yankees in Milwaukee and likely be in Boone’s lineup, maybe as the designated hitter.
What can Yankees fans expect right away from Jones, who hit .353 with six homers and 15 RBI in his last eight Triple-A games?
How will his 32% Triple-A strikeout rate play against major-league pitching?
What’s his potential?
NJ.com turned to a veteran MLB scout who recently watched Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a week to answer these questions and more. The scout was granted anonymity so that he could be candid.
What were your big takeaways watching Jones this season?
Scout: “Well, Spencer was in a little bit of a slump when I was there. When I was watching him, he was facing a lot of right-handers with heavy power stuff and they gave him some problems. I said to him one day, ‘What’s going on, man?’ He said, ‘I’m just trying to hit the ball.’”
He’s been productive all season and really hot for more than a week.
Scout: “That’s what he’s gonna do. He’s gonna be streaky. That’s the nature of a three-outcome guy. He walks, strikes out and hits home runs. When he’s going good, he puts the ball in play. And when he puts the ball in play, it’s impactful.”
What are his strengths at the plate?
Scout: “Yeah. He hit a mistake pitch a long way. That’s what he’s going to do. That’s what he has to do, right? He can’t miss the mistakes.”
He’s still striking out a lot. Is his swing too long?
Scout: “I’m fine with it. You just know that there’s holes that are going to be exposed. These big-league pitchers are going to figure it out and they’ll probably expose him until he adjusts.”
Is there anything Jones can do to cut down on his strikeouts, or do you have to live with that with him because of his size?
Scout: “That’s just how he’s built. It’s just a big swing that he doesn’t cut down.”
What’s the pitch that gives Jones the most trouble?
Scout: “Stuff up is going to be his key. If he can lay off the stuff up, he’ll be OK.”
Anything else stand out?
Scout: “I thought defensively he was fine. He played center, he played right. He ran well. He’ll be fine. He’s a great kid. I think he’s just gonna have to adjust because the league will adjust to him, and then he’ll have to adjust back. And if he does, he’ll have a chance to be a good big leaguer.”
You don’t think Jones can develop into a star?
Scout: “I think he’s got a chance. If you’re gonna put a bet on it, I would say probably not a star, but a really good player.”