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From Prospect to Starter? Jasson Domínguez Wants to Lock Down Yankees' Left Field

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Feb 15, 2025 3:26 PM ET

Apparently, Jasson Dominguez understood the messages. The New York Yankees want their 22-year-old outfield prospect to win the left-field job this spring. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said it this winter, and manager Aaron Boone reiterated the first day of Spring Training.

Now, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reports that Dominguez has been quietly and diligently getting ready to do just that with Yankees’ outfield (and third base) coach Luis Rojas.

“He wants all that,” Rojas said told Kuty. “We had that conversation. He wants it.”

Domínguez has been the most highly-anticipated New York Yankees prospect since he signed as a 16-year-old international free agent in 2019. He has flashed potential in the minor leagues and in a major league debut cut short by a serious elbow injury.

Over two seasons with the Yankees, he has played in 26 games, hitting .207 with six home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .747 OPS. He is a career .274 hitter with 47 home runs, 189 RBIs, and a .816 OPS in four minor league seasons. He played center field for most of his career.

Last season, after coming back from Tommy John surgery and an oblique injury, Dominguez struggled when he was thrown into left field regularly for the first time in his career. He misplayed several balls and looked shaky, leading the Yankees to go with veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo during the postseason.

Still, with Cody Bellinger starting in center and Aaron Judge moving to right field, the Yankees want Dominguez to take the opportunity in left field and run with it.

Cashman said he wanted Dominguez to get a shot this spring, but Boone said he had to earn it. To that point, the Yankees have not brought in non-roster invitees to battle Dominguez for the left-field job. They have Trent Grishman projected as their fourth outfielder.

With this extra work, Dominguez has already shown this spring that he understands the challenge ahead of him.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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