WHY I LOVE SPENCER JONES

Wow!, When I read Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa's piece called FIVE TOOL TALENT OR NOT, JONES DOESN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!, I didn't realize how much she didn't like Spencer Jones.  Then she decided to break my chops about it! How dare she. Well look, I guess it's time to explain where my heads at when it comes to Jones.  Here we go...

There are two types of baseball fans in this world: the ones who panic at a strikeout… and the ones who understand that sometimes a strikeout is just the price of admission for absolute chaos.

If you’re watching Spencer Jones right now and clutching your pearls every time he swings through a pitch, take a deep breath and open a history book—specifically the chapter on Reggie Jackson, patron saint of “yeah he struck out, but did you see where that last ball landed?”

Because the parallels? Oh, they’re spicy. Let’s start with the obvious: Spencer Jones is basically a walking science experiment in power. According to Baseball America, early in 2026 he’s already showing the full “three true outcomes” experience—homers, walks, and strikeouts—with 19 strikeouts in just 37 plate appearances (a 51.4% rate).

That’s not a typo. That’s a “hide your children, hide your batting average” kind of number.

But here’s the thing: five of his seven hits went for extra bases. When he connects, it’s not a single—it’s a small event registered by NASA.

And this isn’t some fluky April heater. In 2025, Jones mashed 35 home runs with a .571 slugging percentage across Double-A and Triple-A, while still running a strikeout rate north of 35%. Translation: yes, he swings and misses a lot… but when he hits the ball, it files a police report.

Now let’s talk about the ghost of Yankee Stadium past—the guy everyone forgets struck out a ton because all anyone remembers are October fireworks. Reggie Jackson didn’t just strike out a lot. He holds the all-time MLB record with 2,597 strikeouts.

That’s not “he struck out a bit.” That’s “he struck out more than anyone who has ever picked up a bat.”

And yet…

• 563 home runs
• 1,700+ RBIs
• Five World Series rings
• A casual nickname of Mr. October because he treated the postseason like his personal fireworks show

Oh—and according to MLB stats, he struck out 100+ times in 18 different seasons. Eighteen! If Twitter existed in 1972, Reggie would’ve been DFA’d by June and trending under #TooManyKs. Here’s where it gets fun. A young Reggie Jackson was exactly what Spencer Jones is now: a terrifying, flawed, unbelievably dangerous hitter. In 1968, for example, Jackson hit 29 home runs while striking out 171 times—a massive number for that era.

Back then, that kind of strikeout total practically came with a handwritten apology note to the fanbase. But guess what teams realized? Runs matter more than aesthetics. Because here’s the dirty little secret about baseball that drives batting-average purists insane:

A strikeout and a weak groundout are exactly the same thing. One just looks uglier.

And if the trade-off is that your “ugly” hitter also launches 35+ home runs, drives in runs, and changes games with one swing… you live with it. Happily. You send it flowers. Reggie Jackson was the blueprint. According to MLB analysis, his power production was 80% better than league average, even while his strikeout rate was way above his peers. Teams didn’t just tolerate the strikeouts—they accepted them as part of the deal for elite production.

Which brings us back to Spencer Jones, a 6-foot-7 problem for opposing pitchers. He’s already shown a Light-tower power (multiple HR bursts in spring and minors), Elite extra-base hit ability as well as the ability to change a game with one swing. And yes… a strikeout rate that makes hitting coaches wake up in a cold sweat.

But here’s the key: the Yankees don’t need Spencer Jones to be a contact hitter. They need him to be a run producer. And according to MLB.com reporting, even the organization understands that his strikeouts may simply be the “tradeoff” for his elite power.

Sound familiar? That’s literally the Reggie Jackson experience. So, let’s say it plainly, you Jeana, are you listening? If Spencer Jones becomes a guy who hits 35–45 home runs, drives in 100 runs, and wins games… nobody is going to care if he strikes out 200 times. Not in the Bronx. Not anywhere. Because baseball history has already answered this question.

The all-time strikeout king is also one of the greatest sluggers to ever live. So, the next time Spencer Jones swings through a pitch and the crowd groans, just remember—you’re not watching a flaw.

You’re watching the cost of doing business for a potential star. Reggie Jackson paid that price. And if things break right? Spencer Jones might too. And if that happens, Yankees fans won’t be counting strikeouts…

They’ll be counting rings. One would hope.