New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s latest endorsement of Trent Grisham arrived at an awkward moment for Spencer Jones.
Speaking on the Talkin’ Yanks podcast Wednesday as the Yankees prepared for the finale of their series in Anaheim, the manager made clear where he stands on the center-field job.
“I think [Grisham] is the best option [in center field] moving forward,” Boone said. “A lot of times I think there’s been a handful of plays this year that have really dinged him… I also think he’s pretty good and very reliable out there. And I still feel like his best work could be in front of him.”
Those words land differently for Jones than they do for Grisham. The 25-year-old outfielder has been one of the few consistent sources of power during Aaron Judge’s long absence with a rib stress fracture.
Jones homered in each of the first two games against the Angels, including a two-run shot in Tuesday’s 7-3 win, and has shown he can handle all three outfield spots.
For months, he has filled the vacuum created when Judge went on the injured list in early June. Now Boone has publicly reaffirmed Grisham as the everyday center fielder even as Judge’s return window opens.
Judge has traveled with the club on this West Coast trip and could be activated as soon as the upcoming homestand that begins September 8 against Colorado. Boone has already indicated the captain will resume playing right field rather than serving as a full-time designated hitter.
That alignment leaves little room in the starting outfield. Grisham stays in center. Judge takes right. Left field remains occupied by a mix of Heliot Ramos and others who have already claimed regular at-bats. Jones, despite his recent production, becomes the odd man out.
The timing is unforgiving. Jones has posted a .245 average with nine home runs and nine stolen bases in 66 games this season, flashing the raw tools that made him a first-round pick.
Yet Boone’s comments signal that defensive reliability and familiarity still outweigh the younger player’s offensive surge when the lineup is whole.
Once Judge is back, Jones’s role is likely to shrink to late-inning defense, occasional starts against right-handers, or a return trip to Triple-A if the roster needs to tighten for October.
The Yankees sit as the top American League wild-card team and remain within striking distance of the Rays in the East. Boone is assembling the group he trusts most for the stretch run.
Grisham, for all his offensive struggles, remains that trusted piece in center. For Jones, the manager’s words amount to a clear message: the opportunity that opened when Judge went down is about to close.
