Prospect Jones tees off as Yanks make most of second chance

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The Yankees got a potential view of the future Saturday afternoon when an overturned call from the experimental Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system sparked a big inning against the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark.

Initially, it appeared designated hitter Everson Pereira had taken an inning-ending strikeout in the sixth, leaving the Yankees with a four-run deficit. But Pereira tapped his helmet to request a challenge and, after the replay showed the pitch was just out of the strike zone, it went from a full-count strikeout to a walk.

Center fielder Spencer Jones followed with a two-run homer and Ismael Munguia added an RBI triple as New York went from nothing to a three-run inning. The Blue Jays ultimately prevailed, 6-4, but the sequence showed how the ABS challenge system, which has been used in the Minor Leagues, can affect a game.

¡°That was pretty sweet,¡¯¡¯ Jones said. ¡°We were all telling [Pereira] he had a good eye up there.¡¯¡¯

¡°That¡¯s a perfect situation [to challenge] -- a 3-2 break-even pitch,¡¯¡¯ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°The difference between a strikeout and getting on base [to] set up a good inning for us. The timing to challenge a close pitch was there, and obviously, he was right and convicted on it. We¡¯ll continue to gain as much experience with it as we can.¡¯¡¯

The ABS challenge system will be used in 60% of Spring Training games as MLB mulls the potential of using it in the future. It uses a set of cameras around the field to track the pitch location. Each team has two challenges and a call can be disputed by the batter, pitcher or catcher.

¡°I just felt the pitch was away from my strike zone, so I felt it was a good moment to take a chance on it,¡¯¡¯ Pereira said through a team interpreter. ¡°It¡¯s close to reality. I think it¡¯s good to use.¡¯¡¯

Jones, the Yankees' No. 2 prospect last season, took advantage of the reversal by picking on a 1-2 curveball from Blue Jays reliever Eric Pardinho, depositing it high over the left-field fence for an opposite-field two-run homer.

¡°There aren¡¯t a lot of guys who can hit a ball like that -- that high of a ball off the hands,¡¯¡¯ Boone said. ¡°Not a lot of people can do that.¡¯¡¯

Jones, a 2022 first-round Draft choice out of Vanderbilt University, gets everyone¡¯s attention with his 6-foot-6, 235-pound stature (and the inevitable comparisons to Aaron Judge). Competing in his second big league camp, Jones had 17 homers, 78 RBIs and 25 stolen bases last season with Double-A Somerset. He also struck out 200 times in 122 games.

¡°I¡¯m working on closer communication with the hitting coaches between each at-bat," Jones said. "Talking about what I¡¯m looking for, what pitches I¡¯m hunting, getting me in that right head space and mentality to attack the pitches."

Boone said he¡¯s excited by the potential of Jones, while saying the 23-year-old must continue to develop.

¡°If you can get to that level [of consistency], it¡¯s a great advantage to have that size and that leverage and those levers,¡¯¡¯ Boone said. ¡°With Spencer, the ceiling is enormous. It¡¯s real defense. It¡¯s real power. It¡¯s real speed. It looks like he has the ability to control the strike zone, but it¡¯s just going to be harnessing that size and that swing.¡¯¡¯

Rod¨®n¡¯s spring debut

Left-hander Carlos Rod¨®n (16-9, 3.96 ERA last season) allowed three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. His afternoon ended after his 47th pitch, which resulted in an RBI single by Alejandro Kirk on a 3-0 offering.

¡°He got his work in -- wasn¡¯t real sharp with his command, but I thought he executed some pitches, too, along the way,¡¯¡¯ Boone said of Rod¨®n. ¡°He¡¯s in a good spot physically, a good routine backed by a really good work ethic. The biggest thing I want him to focus on is the work in the five or six days between [starts], putting himself in a position to go to the [mound] 30 times or 30-plus times.¡¯¡¯

Rod¨®n said the Yankees haven¡¯t seen the best of him yet.

¡°The biggest thing is just to go out there and make every start,¡¯¡¯ Rod¨®n said. ¡°When my name is called, go out there and pitch. We get wrapped up in making the All-Star team, striking out 200 guys, getting 20 wins -- I think if you just show up, make every start and stay on that durability path, everything else tends to work itself out.¡¯¡¯

Hairy situation

There were still reverberations from Friday¡¯s news that the Yankees have amended the organization¡¯s long-time facial hair policy to allow for ¡°well-groomed¡¯¡¯ beards.

Closer Devin Williams, acquired in an offseason trade with the Brewers, said it could favorably influence his options to remain after the 2025 season, when he becomes a free agent. Williams said he recently spoke to managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, but added he was ¡°surprised¡¯¡¯ and ¡°excited¡¯¡¯ when he learned of the policy change.

Judge also said he was pleased because the relaxed policy could help the Yankees attract -- or retain -- top players. When asked if he planned to grow a beard, Judge offered an emphatic, ¡°No.¡¯¡¯

When Boone arrived at Dunedin for Saturday¡¯s game against the Blue Jays, he had a couple days of facial stubble.

¡°Today would have been a shave day, for sure,¡¯¡¯ Boone said with a smile.