Aaron Boone called it “a really tough call” to send Spencer Jones back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with the return of José Caballero from the IL.
The manager said the decision was due in part to the Yankees facing some left-handed starters, but the 25-year-old outfield prospect struggled against all pitching in his brief stint in The Bronx, going 4-for-24 with no extra-base hits, three walks and 14 strikeouts.
“I feel it was a good experience for Spencer,” Boone said. “Even though he didn’t get a lot of results, I felt he held his own pretty well. The last two days, he was having some good at-bats.”
To Boone’s point, there was a 105-mph single to center in Thursday’s loss to Toronto and a deep fly out to the opposite field off Trey Yesavage after Jones replaced the injured Trent Grisham in center on Wednesday.
Grisham had three hits in Friday’s 4-2 loss and was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by Jonny DeLuca from right field.
Boone said he thought Grisham ran “OK” on the bases in his return.
With Grisham recovered from the left knee discomfort that forced him out Wednesday and kept him sidelined Thursday, the Yankees will rely on Amed Rosario and Max Schuemann as the fourth outfielder.
That’s because Jasson Domínguez is still on the IL with a sprained shoulder. Domínguez has begun tee-and toss hitting and is expected to travel with the team to Kansas City and Sacramento on the upcoming trip to continue his work.
Boone said Domínguez might be able to begin a rehab assignment by the end of that trip.
It’s no surprise the Yankees offense has looked anemic lately, given that Aaron Judge is in a six-game skid in which he’s 1-for-23 with no extra-base hits, three walks and 10 strikeouts.
And his lack of production stretches back a bit further, with just a double in a 4-for-35 slump that’s lasted nine games.
Boone liked Judge’s at-bats Friday and his 106-mph laser to center was the final out of the game.
He also grounded out hard to short and Boone said he has been impressed with Judge’s mental approach despite the numbers.
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“His emotional consistency is as good as it gets,’’ Boone said. “That’s critical for a major league athlete, where you fail all the time. Doing it every single day, it’s a grind, even for the great ones and you’ve got to be able to deal with that.”
Judge, Boone said, is adept at that.
“Whether he’s dominating the world or going through a little funk, he’s always the same,’’ Boone said.
Giancarlo Stanton (calf) is expected to be reevaluated at some point next week, Boone said, and if he gets the go-ahead, will be able to resume running.
Stanton has been able to continue to swing while on the IL, in spite of the injury.
