The first full-squad workout of Yankees spring training began on a high note for Jasson Dominguez. The highly-touted prospect faced lefty starter Carlos Rodon during live batting practice on Monday in Tampa, crushing a homer into the left-field second deck with a swing from the right side of the plate.
But the switch-hitting youngster’s biggest challenge this season won’t occur in the batter’s box. Dominguez is in the midst of learning the nuances of left field after years of working in center, and all signs point to the Yankees giving the 22-year-old every chance to claim the starting role by Opening Day in late March.
Dominguez’s big league potential and progress in the minors have long been on the fanbase’s radar, and the pressure to deliver on lofty expectations is reaching its apex. With a uniform change to No. 24 that signals the hopes of a long-term residence, Dominguez realizes it’s finally time to prove he’s a major-league talent worthy of the constant hype and chatter.
“It’s a little different [playing left field], but I think it’ll be good,” Dominguez recently told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. “The pressure is there. But I feel like it’s a good thing to have because it’s motivated me to get better and to be the player that everyone expects me to be.”
Dominguez, who made his Yankees debut in September 2023 with a brief eight-game stint, wasn’t able to take steps forward in his development in 2024. He started last season on the injured list, recovering from Tommy John surgery to his right elbow, and a midsummer oblique injury sidelined him for weeks and limited his Triple-A action to just 44 games.
The Yankees recalled Dominguez when last September arrived, but his performance was far from inspiring. He slashed a measly .179/.313/.304 with two home runs and five RBI in 67 plate appearances, and to make matters worse, poor tracking of fly balls resulted in routine outs becoming extra-base hits.
With newbie Cody Bellinger pegged for the center-field job and captain Aaron Judge returning to right-field duties, Dominguez has spent the entire winter getting comfortable with left-field angles and footwork. Considering that New York opted not to re-sign Alex Verdugo — who wound up starting over Dominguez last postseason for defensive purposes — they clearly feel confident in the current-rookie’s overall strides.
“He’s a young guy who’s still got to go out and earn it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Dominguez last week. “He hasn’t played a ton of baseball for as fast as he’s gotten to the big leagues and as much success as we’ve all seen him have. I think we all in this room would recognize just how talented he is.
“I’d love for him to secure it and grab it and my expectation is that he will… I feel like he’s in a good spot right now. He’s got a good look in his eye and he’s going to get every opportunity to be that guy and we certainly are hoping he shows us that.”
Dominguez has five weeks to demonstrate his value, but taking live batting practice alongside Judge and Bellinger on the first day of camp sends a clear message. The Yankees want him to seize the opportunity at hand — as do the fans.
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