Following the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday, questions surfaced regarding the team’s outfield defense—specifically in the ninth inning. Veteran outfielder Cody Bellinger was seen talking to Jasson Dominguez after the game about the critical play that led to the Mets scoring the go-ahead (and ultimately game-winning) run.
The heart of the issue remains Dominguez’s ongoing struggles defensively in left field. While fans may want to believe he’s showing progress because of his offensive contributions, the reality on defense tells a different story. Dominguez has posted a -0.3 defensive WAR, -5 Outs Above Average, and -4 in Fielding Run Value—metrics that align with what’s evident to the naked eye: he’s still uncomfortable and often out of position in left.
This was especially obvious on Saturday. In the fourth inning, Pete Alonso hit a line-drive RBI single to left field. Dominguez misread the ball and took a strange route—running backward diagonally instead of adjusting for a more direct path. The misplay allowed a run to score and made it clear nerves and poor instincts continue to be a problem.
Later, in the seventh inning, Dominguez again misjudged a fly ball hit by Tyrone Taylor, which ended up as a double. It was a challenging play, potentially dive-worthy, but Dominguez opted for a poorly timed jump and failed to stop the ball at the wall. Even on routine flyouts, like a couple from Juan Soto that day, his glove work appeared unsteady and unsure.
Then came the defining moment in the ninth inning. With the bases loaded, Francisco Lindor hit a shallow fly ball to left-center. Both Dominguez and Bellinger went for it. Bellinger called him off and made the catch, but was forced to throw home from a compromised position due to their close proximity. The throw was too late, allowing the Mets to score the winning run.
While Dominguez didn’t directly interfere, the issue was that he didn’t assert himself on a ball that was clearly in the left fielder’s zone. Some may argue the critique is overly harsh, as Bellinger was technically out of position—but the underlying problem is trust. It’s telling that Bellinger felt the need to take control of that play.
Dominguez now has nearly three months of experience in left field dating back to last season, with steady playing time this year. Still, his defensive rust remains apparent. Internally, it’s hard to believe the Yankees feel fully confident in his ability to hold down a corner outfield spot—especially as the season progresses and the games become more crucial.
Offensively, Dominguez’s season looks better on paper than it really is. Three of his home runs and seven RBIs came in one explosive game against the Athletics. His only other two homers occurred in games the Yankees lost. Aside from a couple standout performances, he’s been inconsistent and is striking out at a 30% rate.
Fortunately for the Yankees, the team is playing well overall and still has time to evaluate Dominguez’s development over the next couple of months. But the question remains: when will the highly touted prospect, once likened to Mike Trout, start showing more consistent flashes of that potential?
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