BOSTON – A few scouts liken Jasson Domínguez to an NFL defensive back.
Interestingly, he’s been on the field quite a bit lately.
The 22-year-old has appeared in the lineup for the last three Saturdays. That’s not too long, but still.
This pattern continued during the second game of the Yankees series against Boston, with Domínguez positioned in left field at Fenway Park.
He contributed with a single and a walk in a 5-3 win, but arguably, his most significant impact was that no one left Nick Sogaard’s single.
“He squared his body to make the throw accurate,” remarked Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “It was a crucial play.”
This season, there hasn’t been much in terms of performance from either end regarding Domínguez. Perhaps it’s not quite what everyone anticipated when he signed as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic for over $5 million in 2019. He was dubbed “The Martian” back then for his unusual skill set.
His reputation soared when he was called to the majors a couple of years ago, even hitting four home runs in his first seven games. Yet, since then, it’s been a struggle.
When asked about the pressure of being in the spotlight since he was 16, Domínguez responded thoughtfully.
Currently, when the Yankees are fully healthy, they prefer placing Cody Bellinger in left, Trent Grisham in right, and Aaron Judge also in right, with Giancarlo Stanton as the designated hitter. This leaves Domínguez and right-handed Austin as backup outfield options.
Now, with Domínguez recovering from a strained elbow, he often finds himself on the bench, even when Judge is limited defensively.
“That’s the reality we’re dealing with this season,” Boone noted regarding Domínguez’s limited playtime.
This marks the second consecutive year where Domínguez has faced a similar situation, as Alex Verdugo has mostly taken up space in left field, especially as they headed into last year’s playoffs.
In Friday’s game, Domínguez ran toward Stanton during the eighth inning, ending up out on base after Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s grounder.
Domínguez and Boone remain confident in his potential.
“Now we just need to win and reach the postseason,” Domínguez emphasized. “I can’t be selfish about myself. I have to prioritize what’s best for my team. That hasn’t changed from last year, though I get it more now. Last year, all I wanted was to play.”
As the youngest player on a 40-man roster for over two years, he holds onto the belief that he can meet expectations.
“I think fans have those expectations because they’ve known me since I signed at 16. They want to see something from me,” he reflected. “It’s all part of the journey. I’m still learning—not an excuse, just a fact. I’m getting used to what I need to do here, but I believe in myself.”
And he’s not alone in that belief.
“You learn through failure,” said Bellinger. “He’s evolved into a solid player.”
