FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Yankees are getting the full Spencer Jones experience early this spring.
In general – emphasis on the big – they will accept it.
Jones homered for the third time in four games on Friday, crushing a 450-foot shot out of the batter’s eye in a 17-5 victory over the Twins at Hammond Stadium.
“It’s always fun to knock them out of the yard,” Jones said. “But at the end of the day, as long as I’m swinging on the pitches I want, as long as I’m seeing the ball well, that’s usually how I judge myself on a day-to-day basis in games, being able to read the pitch and make good decisions.”
The three home runs accounted for Jones’ three hits this spring, as he went 3-for-8 with four strikeouts and two walks.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
When he grounded out in the second inning on Friday, it marked the first out he made this spring that didn’t come via the strikeout.
The 6-foot-1 left-handed slugger has continued to tinker with his swing mechanics early in camp in an effort to reduce his strikeout rate.
“There were a lot of conversations behind the scenes, some things were worked on, things were cleaned up [bat] path and finding some clues and working with guys to learn,” Jones said. “You don’t really know what you have until you’re facing an arm.”
Back in Tampa, Gerrit Cole faced hitters for the second time in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, throwing 22 pitches against Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham.
Stanton remains in line to make his Grapefruit League debut in the coming days.
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