Spencer Jones just proved to the Yankees why he is indispensable

When one is referred to as “Aaron Judge” without, in fact, being Aaron Judge, it holds significant weight. When Yankees prospect Spencer Jones was dubbed the “left-handed Aaron Judge,” it appeared the artistic license used to craft such a moniker had been frivolously abused. The only thing the two men had in common was height. But now, the inner-Aaron Judge has been released, and it was on full display in Thursday afternoon’s SWB RailRiders’ game.

In a 3-for-5 showing, Jones mashed three home runs, pushing his home run total between Double-A and Triple-A to 29 — the highest mark in minor league baseball. It also brings his slash line up to .314/.411/.706. His speed has been an asset as well, having swiped 16 bags in 18 attempts this season.

Jones didn’t start the year flying so high, but toward the end of his time with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, he caught fire. His stats in Triple-A can more than attest to how hot his bat has been. In just 80 at-bats with the RailRiders, Jones is hitting .400/.457/.950 with 13 home runs. That comes out to an unfathomable OPS of 1.407.

Not surprisingly, Jones’ name has been tossed about in trade discussions. Recently bumped down to the No. 4 spot in the Yankees’ farm system — on a prospects list that no longer includes Jasson Dominguez — it seems Jones’ overall value is yet to embark on its overdue ascent. This might mean any team could snatch him at a discount if Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had it in mind to deal him. 

There are numerous reasons not to trade Jones, the most relevant being that Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham could leave in free agency this winter, thus creating a hole in the outfield. But above all else, the Yankees need to value Jones as their potential future. There is a chance Jones will regress heavily at the major league level, but he could become a left-handed Aaron Judge — or at least something kind of similar. And with a short right porch, that sounds pretty good.