BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Spencer Jones hasn’t made quite the powerful impression to start his Double-A season that he displayed in spring training this year with the Yankees.
Jones, the Yanks’ first-round pick (25th overall) out of Vanderbilt in 2022, won the James P. Dawson award as the top rookie in camp.
But he’s struggled out of the gate for Somerset, where Yankees ace Gerrit Cole commenced a rehab assignment Tuesday night for the Patriots.
The 23-year-old Jones — the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect entering this season, according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline — is now batting .227 with a .658 OPS and three home runs in 41 games after a 1-for-5 night Tuesday.
“Things haven’t gone how I expected them to so far, but I think that’s part of it,” Jones said before the game. “It’s just one of those things you have to learn how to get out of it yourself.
“I’ve definitely made some strides as far as mentally, game-planning, that sort of thing. But I was kind of expecting things to happen instead of making them happen.”
The lefty-swinging outfielder was encouraged by a strong weekend series against Bowie in which he went 6-for-12 with one homer and six RBIs in three games.
He opened eyes by slashing .444/.565/,722 (8-for-18) with one home run and four walks in 12 spring games, and also went deep twice in MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout Game.
“I know he’s going to start hitting. I know the talent is here, and I know what he can do,” Somerset manager Raul Dominguez said, adding that stud outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez also struggled initially at Double-A last year. “It’s the same thing I see with Spencer.
“I was thinking I can’t wait to see the Dominguez we saw in spring training and remember a series … that it clicked, and he started hitting. That’s going to happen to Spencer soon, because the attitude that he has to work in the cage and in BP, I think that’s going to happen soon. I can’t wait to see him become the Spencer Jones that everyone wants to see.”
Dominguez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was promoted to Triple-A Scranton on Tuesday after completing a 10-game injury rehab assignment for Somerset.
“Dominguez is one of my favorites,” Jones said. “He’s so great to have around, everybody loves him. He’s a guy that just brings good energy every day. I could feel that in camp and I could especially feel it here. The way he does his work is very professional. We spent some time in the outfield together and I like being around him.”
With Dominguez presumably moving a step closer to joining All-Star outfielders Aaron Judge and pending free agent Juan Soto in The Bronx, Jones said it’s premature to consider how the outfield picture will shake out once he gets his game back on track.
“I don’t think too hard into it,” Jones said. “As a baseball fan, it’ll be cool to see what happens with Juan Soto. Obviously it’s awesome when the Yankees are playing well — more than just for Yankees fans, but for baseball fans.
“I don’t think too far ahead as far as that stuff goes. A lot of that is out of my control.”
