The New York Yankees‘ recent rash of outfielder injuries could open the door for Spencer Jones.
Jones could make his major-league debut in the coming days after Jasson Dominguez’s inconclusive X-ray results after he was hit by a pitch Wednesday against the Texas Rangers.
Dominguez left his third game of the season after he was hit by a pitch on the left elbow in his second plate appearance against Nathan Eovaldi. He exited in the bottom of the fifth inning after briefly remaining in to run the bases.
Dominguez was only recalled from Triple-A after DH Giancarlo Stanton was placed on the IL earlier this week with a right-calf strain. The Yankees also designated outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment and recalled prospect Max Schuemann, who replaced Dominguez in left field after he left the game.
Spencer Jones Could End Up in the Majors Soon
Jones has continued to show off his signature light-tower power in Triple-A. On the heels of hitting six home runs in just 28 at-bats in major-league spring training, he has seven home runs and a .902 OPS in 110 plate appearances for Scranton/Wilkes Barre, plus five stolen bases.
Yet, The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner spelled out what could be holding Jones back from being recalled.
“Jonesâ issues remain the same. The power is otherworldly, but heâs still not making enough contact,” Kirschner wrote Thursday. “According to FanGraphs, Jonesâ 67.1 percent zone contact rate would be the worst for any MLB player since the stat started being tracked â and of course, Jonesâ mark is from Triple A.”
To Kirschner’s point, Jones has 37 strikeouts in 91 at-bats (40.6%) this season which is right around his career 37% K-per-at-bat rate.
Other Options for the Yankees if Jasson Dominguez Needs to go on the IL
Kirschner pointed out the Yankees could simply wait until Anthony Volpe is ready to return then replace Dominguez’s roster spot.
Volpe, who hasn’t played this season while recovering from a partially torn labrum in his shoulder, played for Double-A Somerset on Wednesday. It’s believed the Yankees are close to activating Volpe and could do so as early as Friday for their next game against the Baltimore Orioles.
But the Yankees would still be short an outfielder if they called up Volpe. Jose Caballero, who played 45 games in the outfield in 2025 and 15 for the Yankees, could be put out there in a pinch, as could Schuemann, who like Caballero is a super-utility player.
Amed Rosario can also play both the infield and outfield and has for the Yankees this year.
Still, putting a part-time outfielder, to join full-timers Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge., puts strain on the Yankees lineup. DFAing Grichuk means he can reject a minor-league assignment and become a free agent, even though that roster move Wednesday now puts the Yankees in a bind.
Plus, the Yankees could use Jones’ added power with Stanton out of the lineup. Judge and power-partner Ben Rice have carried New York’s offense since Stanton went down, but the Yankees are averaging just 3.8 runs per game over their past five without the 2017 NL MVP, even though they are 3-2 in that span.
Jones’ power, even at the sake of contact, could be the cure for the recent run shortage.
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