Yankees Announce Surprising Roster Move With Giancarlo Stanton Injured

Jones’ spring training was his scouting report come to life. In his first few games, he came out hot—recording a 6-for-14 start with two homers and two doubles—and told reporters he felt "dangerous" at the plate after making offseason swing adjustments.

These early home runs highlighted his potential. It's why he's been compared to a left-handed Aaron Judge. His size generates elite exit velocities and long drives.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was impressed, remarking on Jones' "real power" and overall athletic gifts.

"With Spencer, the ceiling is enormous. It's real defense. It's real power. It's real speed," Boone said, while also noting that Jones appears to have the ability to control the strike zone when everything clicks.

But not everything is clicking just yet for the 23-year-old.

He also struck out 11 times in his 25 at-bats this spring—a rate that raised eyebrows after his talk of offseason work on discipline in the strike zone.

It also revived concerns from last season.

Last year in Double-A, Jones piled up 200 strikeouts. It was a franchise record for strikeouts in a single minor league season and the second-worst strikeout rate in the minors.