Pinstriped prospects: Spencer Jones’ tough start, a ‘generational’ talent, and more on Yankees’ minor leaguers

NEW YORK — When Raul Dominguez spoke to reporters before the Somerset Patriots game against the Bowie Baysox on May 31, the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate manager said that Spencer Jones was close to hitting his stride at the plate.

“I know he’s gonna make that click soon,” Dominguez said. “Maybe next week, maybe tonight, maybe in one month; I know he’s going to make that click.”

Jones, rated the Yankees’ second-best prospect by MLB.com, proceeded to hit a 110-mph home run that night while going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. In three games following Dominguez’s comment, the 23-year-old went 6-for-12 with one double, one triple, one homer, six RBI, one walk, four strikeouts, and two steals.

The small sample was a welcomed change of pace for the towering center fielder, as Jones was hitting just .228/.317/.348 with three longballs and 21 RBI over 40 games before Tuesday’s contest against Hartford.

While Jones has struggled a bit since an impressive spring showing at big league camp, his coaches aren’t concerned.

“That happens with all hitters throughout their minor league career, throughout a season,” said Patriots hitting coach Kevin Martir. “They’ll go through a little slump. They have their ups and downs.”

Dominguez added that Jones has been the same person every day, no matter his performance and that he hasn’t let any of his offensive woes impact his defense.

Jones altered his batting stance over the offseason, most notably lowering his hands. The change produced immediate results in the spring when Jones slashed .467/.556/1.289 before being assigned to minor league camp.

Martir said that Jones’ new mechanics are not to blame for any bumps he’s endured since.

“It’s more so his approach,” Martir said. “If you watch most of his strikeouts, he chases at times.”

Jones’ 35% strikeout rate was the fourth-highest in the Eastern League entering Tuesday. Last year, Jones struck out at a 28.2% clip over 17 games at Double-A. Before that, he struck out 29% of the time over 100 games at High-A Hudson Valley.

“It’s part of the development,” Martir said. “All these guys go through those struggles or whatnot. He’s done it. It’s happened before in Hudson Valley. It’s happened to many players before. I think with time, if he keeps improving his game-planning or whatnot, all that stuff would come to improve.”

‘A GENERATIONAL PLAYER’

Martir has been blown away by catching prospect Augstin Ramirez, the 20th-best player in the Yankees’ farm system. With 12 home runs, as of Tuesday morning, the 22-year-old and fellow backstop Ben Rice were tied for the Patriots’ lead.

Ramirez was hitting .271/.373/.553 with a team-high 35 RBI.

“He might be like a generational player,” Martir said. “Not many guys at his age can make contact as much as he does and also hit the ball as hard as he does with that elite bat speed. He’s an outlier for sure.”

Martir said that Ramirez’s strong season can be attributed to improved game-planning. Dominguez added that the catcher is benefitting from hitting the ball in the air more.

WELCOME TO THE PROS

On April 1, the Yankees announced that Trystan Vrieling would make his affiliated pro debut at Double-A Somerset. The right-hander, a 2022 third-round pick, spent his draft year at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, and he missed the 2023 campaign with a stress fracture in his elbow.

Still, the Yankees wanted to push the Gonzaga product with a Double-A assignment.

Vrieling responded well at first, allowing just one run over his first three starts. The 23-year-old has been less consistent since, recording a 6.93 ERA over his last seven starts, which included a few clunkers. He has a 4.79 ERA overall.

“He’s kind of settling into professional baseball,” Patriots pitching coach Brett DeGagne reasoned. “There’s a learning curve a lot of guys go through at the lower levels. He hasn’t been through that.”

NOTABLE INJURIES

A few Yankees minor leaguers are on the injured list, including top pitching prospect Chase Hampton, who is recovering from a UCL sprain.

Other notable names include right-hander Clayton Beeter, infielder Caleb Durbin, and outfielder Everson Pereira. There’s also Jasson Domínguez, who is rehabbing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following UCL surgery.