TAMPA — After some passionate fans gathered at Steinbrenner Field to watch the Yankees’ 2-hour, 56-minute victory over the Blue Jays in the Grapefruit League, there was a roughly 45-minute break before the field was filled with the top teams. They were prepared for a showdown between them. Outlook.
Spencer Jones rewarded the few who remained.
According to MLB Pipeline, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect hit two home runs in a 9-1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 1 of the Spring Breakout on Saturday, once again showing his ability to emerge when it matters most. . .
“He’s an example,” said winning pitcher Brock Selvidge. “He’s great.”
This game was created to showcase the stars of tomorrow’s games, and Jones certainly looked like one. In the first inning, the left-handed swinger hit a slider from another left-handed pitcher, Blue Jays No. 9 prospect Adam Macko, 399 feet deep into right-center field for his first RBI.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound center fielder has drawn comparisons to Aaron Judge for good reason, but in his next performance, he had great speed, converting a chopper up the middle into an infield single in the third inning. showed off.
For his grand finale, Jones smashed a 427-foot fastball from Fernando Perez to center field in the fifth inning, clearing the pitch clock. The match was now mine.
“It was really great that MLB gave a lot of us guys a place to come out here and play on TV,” said Jones, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. “I think it was just a fun baseball game. We were all excited about it.”
Jones was a star in the Grapefruit League until he was kicked out of camp on March 5th. In 11 games this spring, Jones went 7-for-17 with a home run, a double, three walks, and no strikeouts for an OPS of 1.171.
The 22-year-old seems to have a nose for the spotlight. In his first at-bat of the spring, he smashed a 470-foot home run, immediately showing incredible judgment.
It would be surprising if he were thrust into the major league spotlight this season, but Jones continues to impress. The California native and Vanderbilt alum played in 17 games for Double-A Somerset last season and will likely start this season.
“For me, I’m happy with the work I put in,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how that translates into a full season.”
Other notable things about the game:
— Selvidge, the organization’s No. 11 prospect, pitched four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, with eight strikeouts.
The left-hander, who played for High-A Hudson Valley last season, said he was especially grateful that his parents were in the stands.
“It was pretty special for them to come here,” said Selvidge, a 2021 third-round pick out of Arizona high school. “It was kind of a game changer for me, it gave me adrenaline and comfort. I’m not only doing it for myself and the team, but I’m doing it for my family as well.”
— First baseman TJ Rumfield, who reached Double-A Somerset last season, hit a deep home run to right-center field.
— No. 9 candidate Henry Laraine pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing one hit.
— Infielder Caleb Durbin played in 47 games for Somerset last season, going 2-for-3 with a single, a stolen base and a double.
