Alex Verdugo will be in left field for Saturday night's ALDS opener between the Yankees and the Royals.
“I'm going to be in there,” the outfielder told the Post after Friday's stadium workout when asked about Saturday's lineup.
Manager Aaron Boone declined to announce his starting lineup on Friday, but officials confirmed Verdugo will be in left field.
Verdugo over rookie Jason Dominguez is not surprising for several reasons.
Verdugo had some success against Kansas City's Game 1 starter, right-hander Michael Washa (3-for-11 with a double), and outperformed the less experienced Dominguez in left field.
He also hit well for the Red Sox in the ALCS playoffs in 2021, posting an .835 OPS in 11 games.
What made the decision difficult was that Verdugo had struggled at the plate for much of the season, and the Yankees called up Dominguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in hopes of sparking him.
Dominguez, who has spent most of his time in the minors at center, has played fairly regularly in left field this year, but was first limited by a late start to the season after returning from Tommy John surgery last year; He was sidelined for five weeks midway through the season due to an oblique injury.
The 21-year-old said after Friday's practice that he had not been told whether he would play on Saturday.
“I want to know, that’s the reality,” Dominguez said. “I'll be ready either way.”
Dominguez hit four home runs in his first eight games when he was called up late last season, but when he was given another chance this September, he didn't do much at the plate.
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In 17 games since joining on September 9th, switch-hitter Dominguez has an OPS of just .660, while left-handed Verdugo finished the season with an OPS of .647 and an OPS of just .554 since June 15th. It was.
When asked what he thought of his performance with the Yankees over the past few weeks, Dominguez said: There is room for improvement. ”
He said he has been playing left field more often this week in mock games at the stadium, and the more he plays there, the more comfortable he gets.
Still, it's not an ideal time for him to learn a new position, having spent most of his professional career at center.
And the prospect of making it to the playoffs is making things even tougher for Dominguez.
