BOSTON — Jasson Dominguez has started only three games in the past three weeks. All came on Saturdays. That pattern says plenty about how the Yankees currently view their once-top prospect.
The 22-year-old outfielder finally got another chance at Fenway Park this Saturday and made it matter. His defensive play in the second inning stood out as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 5-3.
Throw out in the second tilts narrative
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Dominguez’s defining moment came in the bottom of the second. Nate Eaton tried to advance to third on Nick Sogard’s single to left. Dominguez charged, squared up, and delivered a perfect throw to nail him.
With no outs and a runner already in scoring position, the play may have saved the game. The throw stopped Boston from gaining early momentum, and the Red Sox never recovered.
Red Sox did the Yankees a huge favor here as Jasson Dominguez easily throws out Nate Eaton pic.twitter.com/0dEAatHJkH
“He did a good job squaring his body up and making sure he was accurate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That was a big play.”
The out also showcased a strong arm and sharp instincts, qualities that had been questioned after defensive struggles earlier in his career. For a player nicknamed “The Martian,” every gem carries weight. His playing time is limited behind Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge.
The weight of being ‘The Martian’
Dominguez’s story began when he signed for more than $5 million as a 16-year-old in the Dominican Republic in 2019. The Yankees gave him the largest international bonus in franchise history. Scouts called him “The Martian” because of his rare five-tool talent.
Six years later, the nickname feels more like a burden.
“I don’t think it’s made it harder for me,” Dominguez said Saturday. “There are expectations I have to fulfill, but I’m harder on myself because I know I have more in the tank. I like the nickname. I wouldn’t change it.”
He looked destined for stardom when he debuted two years ago, hitting four home runs in seven games with electric bat speed. But injuries, defensive errors, and benchings stalled his rise. Now, the youngest player on the Yankees’ 40-man roster mostly watches from the dugout, waiting for the next Saturday assignment.
Spring training nightmares linger
The problems began in February. In a spring game against Detroit on Feb. 23, he lost a routine fly in the sun. Later in the inning, Andy Ibanez’s drive dropped for a double when Dominguez misread it. Two days later, Philadelphia’s Edmundo Sosa took advantage of another misplay.
“It didn’t look great. There was a little noise about it,” said third base and outfield coach Luis Rojas.
Jasson Dominguez’s stats in his Double-A rehab assignment:
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) June 1, 2024
The Yankees responded with extra work. Coordinators Dan Fiorito and Ryan Hunt focused on footwork and routes, trying to prevent a repeat of the Alex Verdugo situation, where defensive shortcomings limited value.
Metrics painted the same picture. Dominguez posted minus-3 Outs Above Average in 2024. Both the numbers and the eye test said he was a liability.
Saturday starts become his reality
His role has now been reduced to Saturday starts. That is his reality.
With Judge nursing his elbow and Giancarlo Stanton locked in at designated hitter, the Yankees lean on veterans in the outfield. Bellinger provides Gold Glove defense, Grisham has emerged as a surprise bat, and Austin Slater often gets the nod for spot duty.
“That’s the challenge of where we’re at right now in the season,” Boone said of Dominguez’s limited opportunities.
His season nearly hit another low point Friday. Pinch-running for Stanton in the eighth inning, he was doubled off when he ran into Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s grounder. The mistake was the kind that keeps managers awake in September.
Still, Dominguez refused to sulk. “Right now, we need to just win and get to the postseason,” he said. “I can’t be selfish about myself. I have to do what’s best for the team.”
Learning through failure
Bellinger can relate. Once a top prospect himself, the former NL MVP fought through defensive criticism in Los Angeles.
“I know for myself, you learn through failure,” Bellinger said. “I failed a ton of times wherever I was on the field. He’s doing a good job evolving into a player.”
Dominguez has shown flashes of that growth. In April, his leaping catch on Salvador Perez’s liner had only a 60 percent catch probability, the toughest play made by a Yankee to that point. His reads and throws have improved since then.
Saturday’s assist proved the progress. Eaton never should have tested his arm, and the throw reminded scouts why they once raved about his tools.
The adjustment never stops for Dominguez
Switching from center to left sounds simple but is not.
“You hear a crack of the bat and you might think it’s 110 miles per hour and it’s 86 miles per hour,” Chisholm said. “It’s making that adjustment with your eyes and always being ready out there.”
Dominguez entered the season with just 712.1 innings of left field experience, barely half a full season. Each game brings new challenges, from the Green Monster in Boston to the short porch in New York.
His metrics have slowly trended upward. Early in the season, he sat at minus-1 Outs Above Average. Now he’s close to even. He even posted two Defensive Runs Saved that briefly ranked among the league’s best at his position.
Believing through the benchings
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Last October still stings. Dominguez sat while Verdugo started every game. The Yankees did not trust his glove in the postseason. This year feels similar.
“It’s kind of the same as last year and I understand it,” Dominguez said. “Last year, I wanted to play, but I also understood it.”
The difference now is maturity. He studies video between innings, takes extra swings in the cage, and seeks Bellinger’s advice on positioning. He prepares like a starter even when he knows his turn may not come until Saturday.
“I’ve been around and people have known who I was since I signed when I was 16, so I think fans have those expectations and they want to see it,” he said. “I know I have that in me and can be a great player down the road.”
October stakes raise the pressure
The Yankees entered Saturday 2½ games ahead of Boston for the AL’s top wild card spot. Home-field advantage in a potential first-round matchup is at stake. Every play counts.
Dominguez knows he may not see regular action in October. The Yankees will rely on veterans. But Saturday’s throw showed he can deliver when needed.
He also singled and walked to help Max Fried earn his league-leading 17th win. His defense protected the lead. His approach kept the clubhouse united despite personal frustration.
“It’s all part of the process,” Dominguez said. “I’m still learning. That’s not an excuse. I’m getting used to what I have to do here and I still believe in myself, definitely.”
