OF Spencer Jones Wins 2024 James P. Dawson Award

Tampa, FL - The New York Yankees today announced that outfielder Spencer Jones is the recipient of the 2024 James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the most outstanding Yankees rookie in spring training.

Jones, 22, is batting .444/.565/.722 (8-for-18) with 7R, 2 doubles, 1HR, 4RBI and 4BB in 12 spring games. Additionally, Jones participated in Major League Baseball’s inaugural “Spring Breakout Game,” going 3-for-4 with 2HR and 4RBI. The left-handed batter enters this season as the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees organization according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Jones is also ranked as the No. 46 overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America and the No. 84 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. The Encinitas, Calif., native was selected by the Yankees in the first round (25th overall) of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University.

The award was established in honor of James P. Dawson (1896-1953), who began a 45-year career with The New York Times as a copy boy in 1908. Eight years later, he became boxing editor and covered boxing and baseball until his death during spring training in 1953.

Two winners of the honor, Tony Kubek in 1957 and Tom Tresh in 1962, went on to win the American League “Rookie of the Year” Award. The Dawson Award first was presented to rookie Norm Siebern by Manager Casey Stengel in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the conclusion of spring training in 1956. New York Yankees beat writers vote on the winner.