With outfielder Jasson Domínguez headed to the injured list after crashing into the outfield wall earlier this afternoon, the New York Yankees have opted to promote top prospect Spencer Jones, according to reports.
Soon after, it was reported that, following the bullpen day, the Yankees were recalling Kervin Castro from the minors as well; he likely will be taking Brendan Beck’s spot on the roster, as the right-hander will probably be sent back to Scranton so he can remain stretched out as a starter.
By this point, Yankees fans are well-acquainted with Jones, whose rise through the minor league system has come under more scrutiny than any of the organization’s recent prospects, with the possible exception of the man he is replacing. Originally taken with the 25th overall pick of the 2022 draft, the 6-foot-7 left-handed outfielder has steadily climbed through the organization, tantalizing scouts and fans alike with a power potential that is truly only rivaled by now-teammate Aaron Judge – and a similarly high strikeout rate. After yet again making adjustments in an attempt to improve his contact rate, this time by drawing on Shohei Ohtani’s swing as inspiration, Jones has continued to, well, be himself so far this spring, posting a .258/.366/.592 slash line in 33 games, smashing 11 homers and striking out a whopping 46 times.
While Jones was the last outfielder on the 40-man roster not injured or already in the majors, it seemed at first glance like necessity might simply force the organization’s hand. The presence of veterans Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera in Scranton, however – not to mention the ability of Cabrera, Amed Rosario, and Jose Caballero to play the corner outfield spots – means that the Yankees didn’t have to bring him up to ride the pine as the team’s fourth outfielder. And with Giancarlo Stanton already on the shelf – the whole reason the Martian was up in the first place – and Ben Rice missing the last four games due to a hand contusion, it’s clear that the Yankees are finally looking to see if their former top prospect can make the jump to The Show and, like White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami, simply outhit his strikeout woes.
Exactly how the Yankees will line up remains to be seen. Expect Jones to play the outfield more consistently than Domínguez did, however, as defense has been the youngster’s calling card ever since he was drafted. Whether this means that Aaron Judge will get more DH days, or that they will cycle the DH spot through Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Rice (when he’s healthy, that is), we’ll know soon enough.
Kervin Castro, a 27-year-old pitcher out of Venezuela, was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster last winter to avoid him being taken in the Rule 5 Draft — which is, coincidentally, how the Yankees acquired him from the Astros in 2023. Although he lost the competition for the final bullpen spots, he has pitched well enough in Scranton, posting a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings, that the Yankees feel comfortable bringing him up to reinforce a bullpen that needs some fresh arms after an unexpected bullpen day. This is not Castro’s MLB debut, however: he scattered 20 appearances with the Giants and Cubs between 2021 and 2022, allowing 15 runs in 25.2 innings.
