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Why Yankees' Jasson Domínguez hype brings some uncertainty

10 September 2024Last Update :
Why Yankees' Jasson Domínguez hype brings some uncertainty

NEW YORK — Alex Verdugo waited for Jasson Domínguez. As the New York Yankees were preparing to play defense at the top of the third inning, Verdugo stood at the top step of the dugout, looked toward the rookie phenom and patted him on the rear end with his glove before they chatted all the way to the outfield.

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Then, before the eighth inning, Verdugo signaled from left field to Domínguez in center field that he was ready for some warmup catch. Domínguez held up his glove for a split second — he just wanted to finish watching the animated subway train race on the giant scoreboard in front of him. (The D line won.)

It appeared Domínguez and Verdugo got along well in the Yankees’ 10-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

The victory saw two hits — including a two-run homer — from Verdugo and a single and a stolen base from Domínguez, and it helped the Yankees push their lead atop the American League East to 1 1/2 games over the Baltimore Orioles.

Earlier in the day, the Yankees called up Domínguez, and manager Aaron Boone said their top prospect would play “a lot.” That surely wasn’t going to mean less playing time for stars Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, the Yankees’ other two outfield mainstays.

But after the win, Verdugo still seemed unsure about what Domínguez’s presence meant for him.

“He’s going to come up here and play and help this team win,” Verdugo said. “Whatever that means, it means, right? If I lose a little bit of playing time, I lose a little bit of playing time. At the end of the day, I want to win. The only thing that matters is getting to the playoffs and winning there.”

Boone said he hadn’t spoken with Verdugo about Domínguez’s promotion. Did anyone from the Yankees talk with Verdugo about it?

“No,” Verdugo said. “Not yet.”

Boone did, however, praise Verdugo.

“This time of year, it’s about being a pro, and he gave us some professional at-bats tonight, for sure,” the manager said.

With Judge and Soto entrenched in the lineup, it would seem likely that Verdugo and backup outfielder Trent Grisham might be affected the most by Domínguez’s arrival. Grisham hasn’t started a game since Aug. 31 and has appeared in just one game since then. He has one hit since Aug. 14.

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Domínguez forced the issue of his promotion, hitting .347 over his last 18 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. At the plate, Verdugo has mostly struggled with a .237 batting average and a .659 OPS, though he’s been a solid defender. But Verdugo had been better of late, having entered Monday hitting .320 over his previous 14 games.

Verdugo, 28, will also be a free agent next year. Domínguez figures to somehow fit into the Yankees’ starting outfield mix next season. He’s a switch hitter who has been hyped since the Yankees gave him a franchise-record $5.1 million signing bonus at 16 years old out of the Dominican Republic in 2019.

The Yankees had taken a lot of heat from fans and the media for not immediately promoting Domínguez when rosters expanded Sept. 1, though they maintained their minds could change. That happened Monday when they put veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu on the injured list with a right hip impingement, opening a roster spot. Boone said the Yankees didn’t know whether LeMahieu would play again this season, though he was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

Friday, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters in Chicago that if the Yankees were to promote Domínguez to the majors, they would want him to have an everyday role. Monday, Domínguez and Verdugo existed in the same lineup, with Judge as the designated hitter. Giancarlo Stanton, the regular DH, was given the day off.

Domínguez seemed comfortable. As he took batting practice, he chatted with coaches and teammates. He saluted the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning roll call by using his hands to make his signature rocket ship symbol. In the dugout, he received love from teammates in the fourth inning after he singled to the opposite field, moved to second base on a groundout, stole third base and then scored on a throwing error. In the at-bat after Domínguez scored, Verdugo crushed his two-run shot.

“Of course, a lot of excitement,” Domínguez said of being back in the majors. “I was a little nervous when I got to the field, but when I started going, it (went) away.”

And surely Verdugo was a big part of making Domínguez feel comfortable. When the Yankees recorded the final out and jogged back toward the dugout, the pair talked and laughed together. If Verdugo was worried about his spot, he wasn’t taking it out on Domínguez.

As for how it could affect Verdugo? He wasn’t positive.

“But I’m sure we’ll find out shortly,” he said.

(Photo, from left to right, of Alex Verdugo, Jasson Domínguez and Juan Soto: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

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