Jasson Dominguez is lastly about to get his likelihood to dwell as much as his otherworldly fanfare.
After teasing his expertise as a September call-up in 2023 after which roughing it by way of an injury-riddled 2024, Dominguez is about to enter spring coaching because the Yankees’ presumed beginning left fielder in a reshaped outfield alongside Aaron Choose and Cody Bellinger.
Dominguez’s arrival — one lasting longer than only a September cameo — has been lengthy anticipated, and it has the prospect so as to add a distinct component to the Yankees lineup if he performs as much as his potential.
“I’d prefer to see Dominguez get his shot,” basic supervisor Brian Cashman mentioned earlier this offseason. “Now, he’s younger. He’s acquired to earn it, and he’s acquired to retain it.”
The 21-year-old Dominguez’s large league profession so far has been extra stop-and-go than easy crusing.
However the switch-hitter affords the specter of energy and athleticism and was talked about by supervisor Aaron Boone earlier this week as a possible reply to the outlet within the leadoff spot — an indication of what the membership believes he’s able to.
The Yankees acquired Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to bolster their lineup after lacking out on Juan Soto in free company, banking on their veteran bats to assist make up for the massive loss.
However a wholesome Dominguez has a good greater ceiling for what he may add to the lineup if he is ready to make changes in opposition to main league pitching — which proved to be a problem late final yr.
Had Dominguez not torn his UCL in his first eight video games as a giant leaguer in 2023 — after homering in his first at-bat off future Corridor of Famer Justin Verlander and slugging 4 homers earlier than getting harm — he might have gotten this opportunity from the start of final season.
As an alternative, the Yankees went out and bought Alex Verdugo to be a stopgap in left area with Choose slotting over in heart area and Soto manning proper.
Dominguez acquired wholesome and completed together with his rehab task by June, however was optioned to Triple-A with no clear-cut alternative for begins, after which suffered a strained indirect that knocked him out until late July.
As Verdugo slumped by way of the summer time months, the requires Dominguez solely intensified, however the Yankees waited to carry him up for good till Sept. 9 — regardless of rival scouts believing he seemed prepared earlier than then — after they lastly gave him a chance to see if he may supplant Verdugo by October.
Nonetheless, Dominguez’s transition from heart to left area was rocky, with a couple of defensive miscues protruding like a sore thumb, and he hit simply .179 with a .617 OPS throughout 18 video games.
By the point the postseason rolled round, the Yankees went again to Verdugo with Dominguez relegated to pinch operating.
Now, with an offseason of labor and what’s anticipated to be a full spring coaching of enjoying left area — the place some scouts imagine he’ll find yourself long run — Dominguez can be making an attempt to show he’s higher than what he confirmed in his audition there final season.
Dominguez, who stays a consensus top-50 prospect in baseball, has been hyped ever since signing a file $5.1 million deal out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in 2019.
The Yankees gained their arbitration case in opposition to Mark Leiter Jr., The Publish’s Jon Heyman reported Saturday.
The reliever had filed at $2.5 million whereas the Yankees filed at $2.05 million.
Leiter arrived final season in a commerce deadline cope with the Cubs and had a rocky introduction to pinstripes, pitching to a 4.98 ERA in 21 appearances.
The righty was left off the Yankees’ ALDS and ALCS rosters earlier than being added as an harm substitute within the ALCS and recording some large outs in opposition to the Guardians.