Yankee fans get to see young centerfielder Spencer Jones at Clover Park
Outfielder Spencer Jones watches fifth-inning home run during a spring training game against the Tigers on Feb. 24, 2024. Credit: Charlie Neibergall
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Yankees didn’t bring any regulars other than Anthony Volpe to their 5-4 loss to the Mets on Tuesday.
But the many Yankees fans who crammed into Clover Park got to glimpse the hottest Baby Bomber of spring training — 22-year-old centerfielder Spencer Jones.
Jones didn’t disappoint, signing autographs near the Yankees dugout before first pitch, and he sparkled on the field even though he didn’t get into the game until the fifth inning.
His first time up, in the eighth, Jones hit an opposite-field double to left to bring his spring batting average at that point to .500 (7-for-14).
In the ninth, with the Yankees one run away from coming back after a 5-0 deficit, Jones sliced what could have been a tying hit. But Mets third baseman Rylan Bannon made the play of the day, diving to grab the hot shot and getting a forceout at second base. The game ended with the next batter.
But Jones continues to make an impression in his first spring training.
“He's just such a presence and such a dynamic athlete,” manager Aaron Boone said. “In a lot of ways, just kind of scratching the surface on his baseball career. He wasn't a full-time position player until very long ago. He's one of those guys with an incredibly high ceiling just based on his strength and athleticism. Just kind of fun watching him play center, too. He just kind of glides out there. He’s obviously come in here and had good success. So continue to be excited about his future and this being part of that development process.”
After the game, the Yankees reassigned Jones and three others to minor league camp. The others were INF Jeter Downs, INF Caleb Durbin and OF Brandon Lockridge.
Peraza returns
In his first plate appearance since Feb. 25, Oswald Peraza saw a breaking ball from Tylor Megill on its way to his head.
Luckily, the ball glanced off the bill of Peraza’s helmet. Uninjured, he took first base.
Peraza, who had been out with a sore throwing shoulder, struck out his next two times up.
Of the shoulder, Peraza said (through a translator): “Definitely much better. For sure. Good to get back in there, see game action, and now it’s keeping the maintenance on it so that it can keep getting better and be at a good point when the season starts.”
Oops
The Mets scored two runs in the third inning on a passed ball charged to Ben Rortvedt on a pitch that was called a strike from righthander Harrison Cohen.
Rortvedt didn’t realize the ball had trickled behind the plate. It was Cohen who retrieved it, but not before Francisco Alvarez scored from third and Brett Baty came around from second.
Next up
Carlos Rodon will make his second spring training start on Wednesday in Tampa against the Rays.
Rodon hasn’t pitched in a spring training game since Feb. 25, when he allowed one run and struck out five in 2 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays.
His last time on a mound was a live batting practice session on Friday when Rodon allowed home runs to four different minor leaguers. But the Yankees were not concerned with the results, just buoyed that Rodon seems to be throwing the ball better than he was last spring.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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