Yankees’ latest endeavor points to a Jasson Dominguez mistake waiting to happen

New York Yankees former top prospect Jasson Dominguez hasn’t quite lived up to the hype yet. Once-advertised as “The Martian,” a unique outfielder with an other-worldly skillset, the hopeful Yankee star gradually fell out of favor.

Since taking Justin Verlander deep for his first major-league at-bat in 2023, injuries sidelined Dominguez for most of his first two seasons. And despite showing progress with his bat last year, his .257/.331/.388 slash line and 10 home runs failed to impress. His stats against southpaws added greatly to his woes. However, his bat wasn’t the only problem.

Despite his speed (23 stolen bases last year), Dominguez has been rather clumsy in left field, accruing -9 outs above average in 2025 according to Baseball Savant. Because of this, he was only allotted one postseason appearance as a pinch-hitter.

Given his poor defensive quality, struggles against lefties and the fact that the Yankees’ lineup is already heavy on left-handed hitters, Dominguez has been the subject of trade rumors. These rumors got a boost on Saturday, when Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported the Yankees are in the market for a right-handed outfielder. With a power-hitting lefty prospect in Spencer Jones waiting for his shot this season and limited roster spots available, The Martian’s role in the Bronx seems to be fading. Still, trading Dominguez might not be the best solution.

A Jasson Dominguez trade could be a disaster for the Yankees 

Truth be told, the Yankees don’t have the best record when it comes to developing talent. However, it’s a little early to pass judgment on their once-prized prospect. Dominguez will only be 23 next week, and his 529 career plate appearances are hardly a year’s worth of data. In addition, the list of replacements Kuty mentioned — Randall Grichuk, Starling Marte, Tommy Pham and Austin Slater — doesn’t inspire much confidence given factors such as their ceilings and ages. There is also the downside of selling low on Dominguez. However, aside from his replacements and trade value, there are statistical reasons to keep him.

Despite posting a disappointing slugging percentage last season, Dominguez was well above average in bat speed (80^th percentile according to Baseball Savant) and hard-hit percentage (85^th percentile). This can pay dividends if he can make more contact and find the optimal launch angle. Given his young age and promising talent, the Yankees could reap rewards if they exercise patience.