Where Jasson Dominguez fits within Yankees puzzle…
Jasson Domínguez’s displaying in the postseason embodied what the Yankees assume of the younger outfielder.
For a second straight October, Domínguez barely obtained off the bench when it mattered most, but not like their World Series run of 2024, the 22-year-old at least obtained an at-bat during these playoffs.
It was a pinch-hit, rocket double from the left facet that clocked in at 112 MPH.
But it adopted a wild-card sequence and ALDS in which Domínguez barely performed a position, and that got here after a September in which he was an afterthought, with just 20 plate appearances in your complete month.
The Yankees say he’s an important half of their future and he’s still the youngest participant on their 40-man roster, but at some level, Domínguez wants to play up to expectations.
And heading into this offseason, not even the Yankees have a lot of an thought if that would be the case.
Jasson Domínguez #24 hits a double during the ninth inning of Game 4 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I expect him to be right in that mix to be that guy,’’ Aaron Boone said this week. “I still really like his ceiling. But, again, you’ve got to see where the winter takes you and what the roster looks like. I expect him to be a regular player for us, though.”
To Boone’s level, the Yankees outfield state of affairs is in flux. Trent Grisham is a free agent after rising as a energy risk as an on a regular basis centerfielder and Cody Bellinger is predicted to decide out of his contract to hit the open market after a stellar season in The Bronx.
Boone said he anticipated Domínguez to play winter ball this offseason and work in left area, but if the Yankees don’t carry back Bellinger or Grisham, it appears laborious to consider they’d entrust Domínguez to play left area on a common foundation, given his deficiencies at the place.
He primarily performed middle in the minors, although Boone famous he didn’t have a lot of minor league video games due to accidents and the COVID-shortened season of 2020.
Jasson Domínguez (24) is unable to area Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick (20) ground-rule double in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Still, among 19 outfielders who performed at least 790 innings in left this past season, none had a worse defensive runs saved ranking than Domínguez’s minus-7, according to Fangraphs.
And his minus-10 outs above average was the worst among 34 outfielders, according to Baseball Savant.
“Definitely, left field continues to be a work in progress,’’ Boone said. “I think he made tremendous strides there.”
Jasson Domínguez runs down the ball after misplaying Chas McCormick’s double as Cody Bellinger appears on during a Yankees’ recreation against the Astros this past season. Jason Szenez / New York Post
Scouts have been less impressed with his growth defensively.
“I don’t see a guy that’s comfortable there, and Yankee Stadium isn’t a place you want someone who’s figuring it out,” an AL scout said.
Since the Yankees also have a query mark in middle, it’s laborious to know where Domínguez lands, but Boone said the crew continues to like his arm strength, pace and athleticism, and believes the work he put into enhancing that half of his recreation will repay.
But the other issue is that while Domínguez has shown he could be harmful from the left facet of the plate, he’s struggled from the proper facet.
He had just a .569 OPS and one homer in 104 plate appearances as a right-handed hitter and struck out 34 occasions.
“He did a lot of actually good issues this yr,’’ Boone said. “We all see his means at the plate. He didn’t hit for a lot of energy, but there’s energy in there to all fields from both sides of the plate… He has a probability to actually hit and be a good defender. And we noticed the influence he can have on the basepaths. This season very a lot confirmed us we are able to still dream on [him].’’
Until that dream turns into a actuality, though, the Yankees will probably be hard-pressed to merely hand him an on a regular basis spot.
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