The Yankees have made their decision on Jasson Dominguez, and it’s not what fans of the talented outfielder want to hear.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reports that he expects the 23-year-old to start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It’s not a reflection of his ability – it’s simply a numbers game.
The Yankees’ outfield is set with Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger. Giancarlo Stanton anchors the DH spot, with Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt providing backup there when they’re not playing first base.
That doesn’t leave much room for Dominguez.
What makes this situation trickier is Dominguez’s defensive limitations. The Yankees don’t view him as a major league center fielder, which restricts him to left field or designated hitter. That’s a problem when you’re trying to crack a veteran-heavy roster built for a championship run.
Dominguez’s candidacy for a roster spot is hurt by two limitations. The Yankees do not see him as a major league center fielder, which limits him to left field or designated hitter. And he was ineffective batting right-handed against left-handed pitching last season, slashing .204/.279/.290 with one home run in 104 plate appearances.
The offensive struggles against lefties tell the story. Dominguez hit just **.204/.279/.290** as a right-handed hitter facing southpaws last season, managing only one home run in 104 plate appearances. For a player fighting for playing time, that split becomes a real liability.
But here’s the thing – Dominguez just turned 23 last month. He’s got elite speed and has shown flashes from the left side of the plate. The talent is there.
From where I’m sitting, sending him to Triple-A makes sense right now. At least there he’ll play every day instead of riding the bench in the Bronx. Development beats sitting, especially for a young player still working through his approach against left-handed pitching.
The Yankees also know they’ve got depth to call upon if injuries hit. That’s not nothing when you’re dealing with aging veterans and the grind of a long season.
All things considered, this feels like the right move for both sides. Dominguez gets regular at-bats to work on his weaknesses, and the Yankees can pursue their championship goals without rushing a player who isn’t quite ready for a full-time role.
It’s just a matter of when – not if – Dominguez makes his way back to the big leagues.
