2024 James P Dawson Award

After impressing all through Spring Training, Spencer Jones has been named the winner of the James P. Dawson Award.  Given to the Yankees most impressive prospect in Grapefruit League play, the Vanderbilt product opened eyes when by hitting .444/.565/.722 (8-for-18) with two doubles, a home run, four RBIs, seven runs scored and four walks in 12 spring games.  Having played less than 20 games at Double A, the lefty swinger will open 2024 at Somerset -- but don't be surprised if he is promoted to Scranton Wilkes-Barre before the All Star Break.  Having seen him in a couple of games this past month, Jones looked to be on the verge of very big things, at least as much as I recall Aaron Judge in his days with Trenton.  In other words, he looks the part.

Let's take a moment to look at the history of this honor.  Named for the longtime New York Times sportswriter, Norm Siebern was its first recipient, in 1956.  Over the years, such Yankee standouts as Tony Kubek (1957), Roy White (1966), Don Mattingly (1983),  Jorge Posada (1997), Brett Gardner (2009) and Gleyber Torres (2017) have won the Dawson Award -- yet surprisingly, the Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter did not.  Then, tack on several "never were's," ranging from Gordie Windhorn (1959) and Art Lopez (1965) to George Zeber (1977) and John Weber (2010), among the past Dawson recipients.

In sports, there's nothing guaranteed.  At the minimum, especially in this media-crazy age, Spencer Jones is now on the map -- and the clock. 



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