Entering the offseason, it was expected that the New York Yankees were going to be ultra-aggressive after missing the playoffs and finishing fourth in their division during 2023.
The year was a complete disaster, something everyone is looking to avoid this season.
Their aggression started early when putting together a blockbuster trade package that landed them Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres.
Other names were floated as potential targets, including 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease.
However, the Yankees were not willing to part ways with one of their star prospects, and never progressed in talks because of that reason.
It was revealed this player is Spencer Jones.
Rated as New York's No. 2 overall prospect, the 2022 first round pick completed his first full year of professional baseball, slashing .267/.336/.444 with 16 home runs, 49 extra-base hits, 66 RBI, and 43 stolen bases.
To finish the season, he spent 17 games with their Double-A affiliate.
Jones has built upon that strong showing and has put together a tremendous spring, firmly cementing himself as one of the Yankees' next star players.
It's no surprise that MLB Pipeline tabbed the 22-year-old as the "stand out" for New York during their Spring Breakout game after he smashed two homers during his three-hit day, also driving in four runs total.
While the box score looks great, he also had eye catching moments.
"... blasts of 399 feet at 107 mph and 427 feet at 109 mph – and also beat out an infield single with the highest sprint speed of the game (29.8 feet/second)," the MLB.com writers noted following Jones' performance.
That is next-level stuff.
It's no wonder why the Yankees were not willing to trade him away.
More must-reads: