Spencer Jones homers, swipes base in win Thursday

Jones has plenty of power, so hitting him in the middle of the lineup makes sense. However, in 17 games since the All-Star break, he’s also hitting .196 with a 25.4 percent strikeout rate, 17.2 percent swinging strike rate, and 68 percent contact rate. The power and solid walk rate have given him a usable .756 OPS, but he remains a risky bet given his contact profile.

Jones put the Yankees on the board with a base hit in the second inning to drive in a run, then stole second for his fourth steal of the season. He then plated his second RBI on a triple in the fifth before scoring on a balk. Jones would draw a walk in the eighth, reaching for a third time. It was an excellent day at the plate for the 25-year-old outfielder after going hitless in his last five games.

The wind was blowing in at Wrigley tonight, but Jones hit a 106-mph liner low enough get it out to left center. It was his third homer in four games, and he’s now at a solid .247/.333/.452 as a major leaguer, even with his 40 strikeouts in 105 plate appearances. The Yankees aren’t going to have to choose between Jones and Jasson Domínguez for a starting spot for at least a few weeks yet, but if they had to pick today, it’d seem to make sense to stick with Jones.

Jones, starting against LHP Shota Imanaga, blasted a 418-foot dinger in the fifth inning to provide the final scoreline. Jones has enough power (four homers) and speed (three stolen bases) to be a fantasy factor if he keeps getting consistent playing time, so proving he can handle left-handed pitching is crucial for him. Jones is hitting .265/.324/.500 in his last 15 games and .236/.327/.416 in 89 at bats on the season.

Spencer Jones truthers stand up! Well, not really. He socked a three-run homer in the first inning and then a 111 mph single in the sixth. After that single, he stole second base too. That’s three home runs and two stolen bases through 95 plate appearances this season, which is enough to make him intriguing in deeper leagues. Especially with Cody Bellinger out until September and Jones’ opportunity to grab regular playing time depending on whether or not the Yankees acquire an outfielder ahead of the trade deadline. Just be advised that he still has a 40% strikeout rate and that’s unlikely to improve much given his track record in the upper minors.

With Cody Bellinger (hamstring) landing on the injured list on Sunday, Jones will get another opportunity to show the Yankees what he can do at the big league level. The 25-year-old has slashed .224/.314/.355 with two homers, seven RBI, one stolen base and a 35/10 K/BB ratio over 86 plate appearances with the Bombers this season.

Bellinger came up a little lame while running out a double in the top of the eighth. He stayed in to run and waved off the trainer when they started to pay him a visit on the basepaths, but he didn’t come back out for defense afterwards. If Bellinger needs to miss some time, the Yankees would likely recall Spencer Jones.

Most teams usually recall an extra pitcher for a doubleheader, but the Yankees will go with a bat instead. Jones has hit .233/.317/.370 with two homers, seven RBI, one stolen base, and a 34/9 K/BB ratio over 82 plate appearances with the Yankees this season. Perhaps the team is hoping he gets into a big home run today in the hopes of boosting his trade value at the deadline.

The Yankees needed to clear a spot on their roster for Brendan Beck to start on Saturday, and with Trent Grisham back from the injured list Jones became expendable. The dynamic 25-year-old hit .233/.317/.370 with two homers, seven RBI, one stolen base and a 34/9 K/BB ratio over 82 plate appearances during his time with the Bombers.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that a few members of the team are dealing with food poisoning, so perhaps Jones is one of them. The 25-year-old is hitting .225/.313/.366 in his 80 MLB plate appearances this season with a 42.5 percent strikeout rate and a 20.5 percent swinging strike rate. With Trent Grisham (hamstring) set to return this weekend, Jones may be headed back to Triple-A. Jose Caballero will start in center field on Wednesday with Oswald Cabrera at third base and Amed Rosario at designated hitter.