The New York Yankees believe in Jasson Domínguez’s future in left field. They just aren’t handing him the full job quite yet, Aaron Boone said.
“Over time, I feel like I won’t do that,” the Yankees manager said before Wednesday’s game in Arizona, referring to his late-inning defensive switches. “Because I do feel like he’s going to get to a point to where he continues to develop, continues to get more and more comfortable with reps out there. To where my expectation is that he becomes an outstanding defensive left fielder.”
The 22-year-old, a natural center fielder, has started three of the Yankees’ first four games in left, but has yet to finish any of them in the field.
Each time, Boone has replaced him late with Trent Grisham, who slides into center while Cody Bellinger moves to left. Domínguez’s only full game so far came as a designated hitter.
Boone acknowledged the balance he’s trying to strike between giving Domínguez opportunities and protecting leads in close games.
“That’s an important part of this process,” he said. “Making sure Jasson continues to develop in the best possible way.”
It helps that Grisham, in Boone’s words, is “a really good player” and has been playing “at a really high level through his first several games.”
Domínguez made some mistakes in left last September and again this spring. But the Yankees like his athleticism and believe he can grow into the position with regular reps.
The trick is making sure he can learn without the pressure of worrying about making a mistake in the late innings.
