TAMPA — Jasson Domínguez’s quest to earn the Yankees left discipline job began off in model.
It would take greater than a house run in dwell batting apply on the primary day of full-squad exercises to lock up the beginning position, however Domínguez did take Carlos Rodón deep from the appropriate aspect Monday to serve one other reminder of his potential.
Now he simply must comply with via on it.
“The pressure is there, but I feel like it’s a good thing to have because it’s motivation to get better to be the player everyone expects me to be,” the long-hyped prospect, who solely simply turned 22, stated Monday.
Among the many issues the Yankees might want to see from Domínguez this spring is healthier protection in left discipline than he confirmed there late final season after making the transition from middle, largely on the fly.
He spent the previous two weeks on the membership’s participant growth advanced taking fly balls in left discipline and can now have the six-week runway of spring coaching to regulate to all of the angles and intricacies of the place.
“My mindset is keep working on my left field reads and trying to get more used to it,” Domínguez stated. “I’m feeling pretty good right now.”
Domínguez additionally struggled offensively final season within the small pattern measurement of 18 video games within the majors, batting simply .179 with a .617 OPS — a lot completely different than his red-hot debut in September of 2023 earlier than present process Tommy John surgical procedure.
The switch-hitter stated he felt “lost” from the appropriate aspect final yr, however spent the offseason getting his rhythm again there.
“Over time, I think he’s going to be a real factor from both sides of the plate,” supervisor Aaron Boone stated. “He’s probably further along right now left-handed. The results would suggest that. But it’s a pretty small sample for a young man who’s young in his career.”
Within the meantime, Domínguez will spend the spring along with his locker sitting between Aaron Choose and Cody Bellinger, with whom he’s anticipated to share the outfield this yr.
“Me and Bellinger were joking with him about, ‘You got two Rookie of the Years right next to you, this is going to be your year,’” Choose stated. “‘If you go out there and do your thing, something special’s going to happen.’ We’re going to definitely be on him, try to be a good resource, be good mentors to him. But he’s got a great head on his shoulders.”
Boone isn’t planning on enjoying Austin Wells within the first week or so of Grapefruit League video games to permit the catcher to ease into motion coming off a heavy workload final season.
“Really, just how much he played down the stretch and having never been down the stretch,” Boone stated. “Let alone in September and October, the amount of games he played in the second half, at times a little banged up but overall pretty good. Then obviously having a little shorter offseason. I think he’s in a great spot and he’s doing everything he needs to do to be ready.”
Rodón threw 42 pitches throughout three “ups” in dwell batting apply Monday, together with hanging out Domínguez, Bellinger and Choose to start out off his outing. … The Yankees added a 71st participant to huge league camp Monday, inviting lefty reliever Rob Zastryzny to spring coaching on a minor league deal. The 32-year-old, who owns a profession 4.30 ERA throughout components of six seasons within the huge leagues, presents another choice for lefty reduction together with Tim Hill and non-roster invite Tyler Matzek.
