Under normal circumstances, the New York Yankees wouldn’t be overly concerned with their top prospect struggling in spring training. Unfortunately, these are far from normal circumstances. With several key injuries to both their pitching staff and fielding lineup, the Yankees need all the help they can get, including from Jasson Domínguez.
As the team’s most hyped prospect in years, Domínguez hasn’t yet had many opportunities to prove he’s worthy of the attention. His spring performance has been inconsistent, with some flashes of impressive hitting and speed but also some worrying defensive mistakes. So far this spring, the 22-year-old hasn’t done much to ease concerns. If Domínguez can’t make left field work, the Yankees may have to look for alternatives.
Yankees Eyeing Outfield Alternatives Amid Domínguez’s Defensive Struggles
At the start of spring training, both manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that Domínguez would need to earn the left field spot before the season began. On Thursday, Boone spoke with NJ.com’s Randy Miller, discussing whether Domínguez had earned the starting role: “I’d like to think so, yeah, but we’ll see. We’re two weeks away. So important days for him, still getting those reps and continuing to gain experience. But there’s no reason in time he shouldn’t be really good.”
But has he truly earned it this spring? In 35 at-bats, Domínguez is slashing .229/.270/.400 with five RBIs and two home runs. These numbers look a bit better after a two-run homer off top prospect Jackson Jobe in Thursday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. It’s a small sample size, but they don’t exactly scream “future star” for a 22-year-old rookie expected to start.
Jasson Domínguez.Time for Growth
Regardless of his current performance, it’s crucial to remember that Domínguez is just 22 years old, with only 87 career regular-season at-bats under his belt. While it’s somewhat concerning that he’s likely to start in left field on Opening Day, adjusting to the big leagues can take time, even for top prospects. The real test will come during the regular season. Domínguez is still learning left field, and it appears he will have time to settle in, as there doesn’t seem to be anyone ready to take his place.
Secondary Options
But what if Domínguez struggles or gets injured? The Yankees certainly don’t want to bring in another player like Alex Verdugo, whose weak bat only drags down the lineup further. With the Yankees already dealing with a lack of depth in the bottom half of the order, they can’t afford another offensive liability. If the team is looking for internal solutions for consistent offensive production—something Cashman has hinted at—they’ll need a lot of luck.
When it comes to outfield options, there’s Trent Grisham, who’s known for his elite defense, but like Verdugo, he has a weak bat. Ideally, Grisham stays as a fourth outfielder. Then there’s Dominic Smith, who’s been impressive this spring, batting .314 with two homers and a .954 OPS. However, while Smith offers a decent bat, his defense leaves much to be desired. If the Yankees are hoping for an offensive boost, it likely won’t come from the outfield.
Best Case Scenario
Of course, the Yankees won’t have to entertain these alternatives if Domínguez plays up to expectations. Even an average performance would be a huge help for a team that currently seems worse off than when Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were carrying the entire lineup. So, while Domínguez hasn’t exactly been “out of this world” in spring training, don’t count him out just yet—how he performs could play a major role in determining the Yankees’ season.
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