Yankees Spencer Jones blasts home run in his first spring training game

DUNEDIN, Fla.— Even after coming off a tough season in the minors, Spencer Jones knows how to start big league camp with a bang.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training For the second straight year, the Yankees’ top outfield prospect homered in his first Grapefruit League game, as Jones belted an opposite-field, two-run shot Saturday in a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. “Not a lot of guys hit a ball like that,” manager Aaron Boone said of the curveball that Jones took the other way off the bat at 104.5 mph against Blue Jays minor league righty Eric Pardinho. Jones, the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2022, had a strong first big league camp last spring before taking his lumps during the regular season, striking out 200 times in 544 plate appearances at Double-A while posting a .789 OPS. But the 6-foot-6 Jones and the Yankees are hoping he can use that season to his advantage in the long run as it forced him to make some adjustments — including some to his swing late in the year — along the way. “I took a lot of positives from last year,” Jones said after going 1-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout looking.

“I knew when I was hitting the ball, good things were happening and defensively I was getting the job done and I played a lot of games.That was the most important thing for me. As for cutting down his strikeouts, Jones said he planned on having closer communication with his hitting coaches between each at-bat. “Talking about what I’m looking for, what pitches I’m hunting and getting me in that right headspace to attack the pitches I’m looking for,” Jones said.

“I feel like when I’m in the right position to hit, I have a great eye and that’s what I’m working on.” Despite the rough 2024, the Yankees still believe in the potential of Jones, who since he was drafted has garnered comparisons ...