Will the Yankees’ rising star Jasson Dominguez be part of the lineup for the ALDS?
Despite being the New York Yankees’ top minor league prospect, the team hesitated to bring up Jasson Dominguez to the big leagues. As the calendar turned to September and the call-up hadn’t happened yet, Yankees fans grew frustrated, questioning why the team was reluctant to unleash “The Martian” in Major League Baseball. Finally, on September 9, the Yankees promoted the talented outfielder, but his performance has been a mixed bag.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reflected on Dominguez’s limited time with the team, acknowledging the highs and lows. “He had some hiccups in the outfield, and while he didn’t light up the stat sheet offensively, he was still having quality at-bats. I know what he’s capable of on both sides of the ball, and his speed is a big asset. I feel like he’s ready,” Boone said, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News.
While Boone’s comments aren’t a glowing endorsement, he did note, “Whatever direction we go, he’s going to play a big part.” It’s not the strongest show of confidence, but Boone’s cautious optimism isn’t surprising given Dominguez’s recent performance.
Since his call-up, Dominguez has posted a .192/.333/.327 slash line over 17 games, including 15 starts. He’s tallied one double, two home runs, four RBIs, and eight runs scored. Despite the low average, Dominguez has been a threat on the base paths, stealing five bases without being caught.
As the Yankees head into the postseason, the question remains: What role will Dominguez play? While he’s a natural center fielder, Aaron Judge—likely the AL MVP—holds that spot. Juan Soto is set in right field, and the team prefers to keep Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter. To keep Dominguez’s bat in the lineup, the Yankees will likely slot him into left field.
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