MILWAUKEE — Spencer Jones Records First Big League Hit
Spencer Jones’ journey as a major leaguer has officially started, even if it took a little while to get there. In his third game with the Yankees, he finally got his first career hit with an RBI single off Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson during the second inning of a 4-3 loss.
Henderson opened with a slider, and Jones didn’t waste the opportunity, hitting the ball at an impressive 166.4 mph, bringing Jose Caballero home from second base for an early 2-0 lead.
Interestingly, this milestone hit coincided with Mother’s Day. Jones’ family, including his mother, was there cheering him on in the dugout throughout the weekend, marking a special occasion that included his debut game on Friday night.
“It was pretty exciting,” Jones remarked after the game, as he carefully placed the ball in a case in his locker. “I’m really glad my family was here for this moment. My teammates were so supportive and showered me with congratulations. Running for the players was just awesome—it felt really special.”
His teammates shared in the excitement as well. Aaron Judge, for one, expressed his joy. He noted how calm Jones remained during the series, admitting that it was a moment everyone had been waiting for. “It was great that his family was able to witness it,” he added.
Jones ended up going 1-for-4 in that game, making it a total of 1-for-9 with five strikeouts and a walk during the series. Facing a formidable Brewers pitching staff, he certainly faced challenges as they had kept the Yankees mostly quiet throughout the weekend.
“With each passing day, I found myself becoming calmer and more comfortable in my role,” Jones said. “If we keep this pace, I think we can work our way into a better position.”
As a 24-year-old, turning 25 soon, Jones played various positions over the series—starting at center on Saturday, designated hitter on Friday, and right field on Sunday, as Judge took a turn as DH.
Manager Aaron Boone noted, “I thought he had some solid at-bats. He showed decent awareness of the strike zone and didn’t chase too much. Sure, he faced some tough matchups, but he’s learning.”
Additionally, pitcher Cam Schlitler was still feeling “a lot of pain” after injuring his left calf the day before, a hit that left him with a significant bruise. Boone mentioned he would be receiving treatment in the days ahead of his next scheduled start against the Mets.
When questioned about any potential issues ahead of that start, Boone cautiously replied, “I hope not, but I can’t say for sure. I’m sure he’ll be working closely with the trainers to bounce back.”
On another note, Gerrit Cole made his fifth rehab start at Double-A Somerset, striking out eight in five innings while allowing two earned runs on 77 pitches. It looks like he may need one or two more rehabilitation outings before returning to the Yankees.
Lastly, to make room for Carlos Rodon on the roster, the Yankees sent reliever Carvin Castro back to Triple-A.
