Red-hot Yankees prospect Jones clubs first career trifecta at Triple-A

Spencer Jones has been at the center of trade rumors for the New York Yankees of late, but the organization's No. 4 prospect is making a strong case that his only move should be to the Bronx.

The 2022 first-round selection (No. 25 overall) has been on an absolute tear of late and accentuated it with the best performance of his career on Thursday -- mashing his first three-homer game in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 10-8 loss to Rochester at Innovative Field.

The effort pushed Jones to the top of the Minor League home run leaderboard with 29 dingers through 68 games this season. The Vanderbilt product has had his power dial locked in at max of late with 19 of those taters over his past 32 games, 10 over his past 12 and seven in his past six contests.

"I think it's a combination of things," Jones said of his play of late. "I have a lot of really good people in my life, here at the field and back home, and they're helping me to just be myself and let things flow naturally. I'm being the athlete I know myself to be and it's been a good season and a fun month, but there is still a lot left to do."

Jones needed just three at-bats to achieve his milestone on Thursday. In the first inning, against righty Bryce Conley, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound lefty swinger fouled off a couple of fastballs before connecting on a changeup away in the zone 102.7 mph and sending it 401 feet over the wall in left-center field.

Jones led off the third against Conley again, this time working the count full before hammering a fastball the other way 425 feet at 108.4 mph. This dinger helped Jones leap-frog Ryan Ward for the Minor League homer lead with 28.

Two innings later, Jones once again was in an 0-2 hole against Conley after swinging through the first two offerings. But, this time he didn't miss a hanging breaking ball and sent it soaring over the wall in straight-away center field 433 feet at 105.8 mph.

"All of them today were with two strikes," Jones said. "In every one of those at-bats, I was just trying to barrel the baseball and keep the at-bat alive. Just keep things as simple as possible and do the right thing. Be quick and on time and hit the baseball. I was fortunate to get good contact on those three swings."

As if his value wasn't already peaking at this point, Jones wanted to show off his other tools in the bottom half of the fifth. Nasim Nuñez sent a sinking line drive into left center and Jones ran it down and made that play on a sliding catch to end the frame and save a run from scoring.

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"I really just wanted to get the guys back in the dugout because it was hot out there today," Jones quipped. "I wanted to keep a run from scoring and I got a good jump on a well-placed ball. I have to admit, it was cool to be able to make that play."

The 24-year-old is batting .403/.467/.871 with 13 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs, nine walks and is 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts over 15 games in July at Triple-A. Across two levels this season, Jones is slashing .314/.411/.706 with 57 RBIs, 42 walks and 16 swipes. Defensively, over 401 1/3 innings in center field this year, Jones has not committed a single error in 84 total chances.

This marks the first three-homer game in the Minors since Jones' teammate Jose Rojas did it for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester on July 19. Jones also went yard in that game.

"Yes, I see it and I hear about it, but I don't take any of it seriously," Jones said of his name in trade rumors. "At the end of the day, I'm focused on what I have to do here with Scranton and for the Yankees organization. As long as I take care of doing my job the right away, everything will work out for the best."