Yankees Are Hoping To One Day Soon Have Two Aaron Judges

As you know, the Yankees might have a new giant in town, and his name is Spencer Jones. 

At 6-foot-6, Jones is practically a carbon copy of Aaron Judge—if Judge were left-handed, of course. It’s no wonder comparisons between the two are flying faster than a Judge moonshot. Or, as the New York Post once put it:

“Has Aaron Judge’s mere existence led the Yankees to their next Aaron Judge? The Yankees and Spencer Jones likely hope so.”

I suspect however, the pressure and comparison is not helping Spencer’s pysche. Yes Jones is a towering center fielder, and has heard those comparisons “a lot,” and for good reason. Much like Judge, Jones is a rare breed: a big, athletic outfielder with long levers and jaw-dropping raw power. But unlike Judge, who’s proven to be one of the best hitters in the game, Jones is still a work in progress.

His 2024 season in Double-A Somerset was solid but not exactly superstar-level. Over 122 games, Jones posted a respectable .259/.336/.452 slash line, belted 17 homers, drove in 78 runs, and swiped 25 bases. Not bad—but not yet Judge territory.

The Yankees, however, aren’t giving up on the idea that Jones could be their next big thing (literally). This offseason, they’ve been working with him to refine his mechanics and sharpen his approach at the plate. The goal? Cut down on those weak grounders, trim his strikeout rates, and let his natural power shine.

Jones’ long swing and occasional struggles with plate discipline are hurdles, sure. But he’s got one major advantage: Aaron Judge’s evolution as a hitter is the perfect cheat sheet. Judge didn’t become Aaron Judge overnight. He mastered pitch recognition, found his balance in the box, and learned how to consistently mash. Jones has been tweaking his fundamentals to do the same.

Still, there’s skepticism. The Yankees’ analytics department hasn’t exactly been a beacon of hope for developing young hitters in recent years. Can they help Jones turn potential into production? It’s a big question mark.

If Jones can follow the Judge blueprint and cut down on whiffs while maintaining his thunderous power, the Yankees might just have something special on their hands. As the New York Post so eloquently framed it, “Has Aaron Judge’s mere existence led the Yankees to their next Aaron Judge?”

Stay tuned. Spencer Jones may not be there yet, but he’s one to watch—and if everything clicks, the Bronx could soon be home to its next towering superstar.