It's only a small sample size, but the Yankees may have something batting Jasson Dominguez in the leadoff spot.
Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone put out the same lineup he wrote for Tuesday's game — the first time he's had the same lineup in back-to-back games since April 1-2 — and received similar results, all with the 22-year-old outfielder hitting leadoff.
After going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the series opener against the Mariners, Dominguez turned it around in Wednesday's 9-6 win. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a walk, all while showing off the various skills he brings to the field that have made him one of the organization's top prospects for a number of years.
He was asked what skills he brings to the leadoff spot and Dominguez while showing appreciation to Boone for trusting him in that position.
"I’m able to walk and get those hits and run the bases. That helps me in that spot to be able to perform as a leadoff hitter," he said. "It means a lot when the manager trusts in you and makes me want to play harder."
Dominguez also showed off skills that don't necessarily show on the box score. He took extra bases on the basepaths, scoring from second on a Cody Bellinger single and getting home from first on an Aaron Judge double. And he was clutch, driving in a run of his own with runners on second and third in the sixth inning when the Mariners cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4.
"JD always has confidence. He’s got an amazing skillset and super talented," Boone said of Dominguez's recent performance. "I would say, and I’ve said this a lot, the first few months of the year here, maybe hasn’t been spectacular but it’s been real steady. He gives you a mature at-bat, h continues to improve in the outfield. You’re really seeing his baserunning be a real factor. Speed on the bases scoring first to home…It’s pretty much every at-bat, he has been really dialed in going back to Toronto. He was excellent and I feel like he’s gotten hot this past week."
In that four-game Toronto series, in which the Yankees were swept, Dominguez was one of the few bright spots. He went 9-for-18 with three RBI and three runs scored. If you include the two games he played against the Mets, those numbers improve to 11-for-22 with a two-homer game added in. By the way, in that two-homer game, Dominguez led off.
"Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate," Dominguez said. "I feel like all the work I’m putting in is paying off."
Again, it's only a small sample size. He's appeared in four games (three starts) this season as the leadoff hitter and he's now 8-for-21. We'll see where Boone pencils in his young outfielder in the series finale on Thursday, but batting leadoff needs to be in consideration.
Jasson Domínguez has an RBI and a three-hit game! pic.twitter.com/0HRvYKijvb
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 10, 2025
Read the full article here