Spencer Jones put together an impressive spring, but there simply was no room for him in the Yankees outfield.
New York optioned their No. 6 prospect to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday and reassigned him to Minor League camp ahead of a 5-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. The move was widely expected after the Yankees re-signed Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the offseason, leaving no opening for Jones to crack the starting lineup.
The 24-year-old hit .333 in Grapefruit League play with three home runs, seven RBIs and three stolen bases in 18 at-bats, and has been working on refining his swing by studying aspects of Shohei Ohtani’s approach. Despite the strong showing, manager Aaron Boone urged Jones to stay focused on what he can control.
“The reality is, he’s coming off a really strong season,” Boone said. “You see the signs of him continuing to get better.”
Jones himself has accepted the situation with a mature outlook, expressing his belief in the organization and his willingness to wait for his opportunity.
“In my mind, this is the best organization to play for,” Jones said. “If opportunities come later, I think it’s for a good reason.”
The Yankees also optioned right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A on Monday. Rodriguez, the club’s No. 3 prospect, posted a 3.00 ERA in six Grapefruit League innings and is currently representing Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic, where he earned the win in Monday night’s 4-1 victory over Cuba.
“He’s got a real chance to impact our club this year,” Boone said of Rodriguez.
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