Before Spencer Jones started in right field and batted fifth for the American League in Saturday's 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, MLB.com's No. 2 Yankees prospect reflected with SNY's Michelle Margaux on lessons learned from Aaron Judge and Juan Soto earlier this year in spring training.
"The biggest thing I learned in spring training was their personalities are 24/7," Jones said. "Those are those guys for a reason. They go out there and they do their job every single day and love what they do, and it's infectious to be around. Having that personality, knowing yourself and doing what you love is what I learned the most."
Jones, 23, returned to the Futures Game for a second straight year after debuting in the 2023 showcase.
The 2022 MLB Draft's No. 25 overall pick out of Vanderbilt entered the break slashing .237/.317/.403 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI through 73 games this season for Double-A Somerset.
After slashing .268/.337/.450 with 13 homers and 56 RBI in 100 games last season at High-A Huntington Valley, Jones ended the campaign on a 17-game run for Somerset.
Promoted Aug. 27, Jones slashed .261/.333/.406 with three homers and 10 RB.
While MLB.com lists the 6-foot-6 Jones with an MLB ETA of 2025, the left-handed slugger keeps his focus on the present.
"I'm just going to go out there and do my job every single day for now in Somerset and, when opportunities come, they'll come," he said. "But for now, I'm just working."
What is Jones working on?
"For me, it's different things -- finalizing that approach, making sure that I'm in the position to hit every time in the box," Jones said. "There's a million things you can work on every single day. And the best part about baseball -- there's opportunities every single time you show up to the yard."