Yankees' towering duo ignite spring training! Two-meter slugger captain Judge belts two homers, Jones also erupts

Even though Spencer Jones and Aaron Judge don’t need to look eye to eye, they share plenty to talk about at Yankees spring camp: massive power hitting, dependable outfield defense, and aggressive base running. Their height is just an extra topic.

As the Yankees dream of the day when these two two-meter power hitters can bat side by side in the major league lineup, Jones and Judge answered those hopes with action today. In the Yankees’ 20-3 spring training Florida Grapefruit League home opener win over the Tigers, both players homered.

“He’s a captain for a reason,” Jones said. “He looks out for everyone, especially during this spring training, which has helped me a lot. It’s the little things; he’s not the type to preach. If you ask him, he’s always willing to talk.”

Jones launched the Yankees’ first Grapefruit League home run of the season in the second inning. He crushed a 94.8 mph four-seam fastball from Keider Montero deep to right field, sending the ball flying out of the stands toward Dale Mabry Highway.

Statcast measured the homer’s flight distance at 408 feet with an exit velocity of 111.7 mph. Jones considered that distance a conservative estimate.

“Either way, it counts as a run, so that’s pretty cool,” said 24-year-old Jones.

Watching from the first base side dugout, Judge noted a change in Jones’s swing. Jones admitted he modeled his approach after Dodgers’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani, calling the reigning NL MVP “a smooth, excellent example of a great swing.”

“When Jones plants his toe like that, he’s ready to swing,” Judge said. “In the past, even last season, pitchers might have thrown a lot of high fastballs at him. I think this adjustment will help him overcome that.”

“He doesn’t lift his leg too high, so timing isn’t an issue. I liked what he showed in his first at-bat. That quickness, that readiness, really changes the game for him.”

Last season, Jones split time between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting a total of 35 home runs in the minors. By the end of 2025, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect.

He struck out 179 times in 438 minor league at-bats, so strikeouts remain a concern. But GM Brian Cashman acknowledged that on other teams, Jones would likely have already seen major league playing time.

With the Yankees, he currently sits behind Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Judge, while Jasson Domínguez might also be waiting for his chance.

As for Judge, after winning his third American League MVP last year, he smoothly transitioned into spring training early this year to prepare for representing Team USA in the Classic.

“Since last year, I’ve tried to get more at-bats earlier so I’m ready by April,” Judge said. “I think that’s worked well for us, so I’m doing it again this year. Also, playing in the Classic, you don’t want to show any weaknesses. Representing your country means being prepared.”

In the third inning against Tigers’ Burch Smith, Judge hit a two-run homer that struck the center field backdrop. Statcast recorded the flight distance at 420 feet with an exit velocity of 104.5 mph.

“The focus is on preparing for the season, but if you don’t produce, people ask if your power is fading,” Judge said. “At this stage, I have areas to improve and things to do, with the goal of helping build the strongest team possible.”

In the fourth inning, Judge blasted a solo homer down the left field line off Ricky Vanasco, flying 395 feet with an exit velocity of 106.1 mph. This hit was eerily similar to the “disappeared home run” he had at the Steinbrenner Stadium against the Rays on April 20 last year.

“I didn’t know whether to run or not, whether it was fair or foul,” Judge said, recalling his seven multi-homer games last year. “This time, I just kept my head down and ran. I thought, ‘I’m not even looking at the ump.’”