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+--- Thread: Yankees havent ruled out anything in left field conundru (/thread-88546.html)
Yankees havent ruled out anything in left field conundru - delmermollie - 11-18-2025
With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees were still experimenting in left field. Ja son Dominguez was back in the unfamiliar spot again for after looking uncomfortable on a handful of plays since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Its clear that the team , as Dominguez is splitting time with Alex Verdugo and Aaron Boone said Thursday the Yankees were just trying to let things declare themselves here in this final week. Ja son Dominguez struggled in left field on Wednesday. Getty Images Thats hardly an ideal situation, but Verdugo hasnt hit well enough to guarantee a starting role there in the playoffs and neither has Dominguez. Boone didnt even rule out the po sibility, when presented the potential scenario, of shifting Aaron Judge back from center to right, Juan Soto to left, where hes played for most of his career, and Dominguez to center. Explore More When asked if the team had considered that outfield deployment, Boone said, Not yet. Would he? Well see. Theyve avoided putting Soto in left because of the spacious dimensions there at Yankee Stadium. Alex Verdugo makes a nice catch during a game earlier this season. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Boone said defense would a big factor in the decision, adding that Verdugo has been tremendous defensively. Especially in the postseason, outs need to be outs, Boone said. Things are gonna happen and guys are gonna make mistakes here and there, but defense is a huge part of it. If thats the case, Verdugo has the edge, but the Yankees that Dominguez can spend time in left, since he was in the lineup against right-hander Corbin Burnes with the lefty-swinging Verdugo on the bench. Enes Kanter Jersey Dominguez finished Thursday 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, striking out twice, before the lefty-swinging Verdugo relieved him defensively in the seventh, swatting an eighth-inning, solo homer in his only plate appearance. Ja son has certainly had , Boone said. But he also has got the ability to be really good out there. Which is why Dominguez was in left field early before Thursdays game against the Orioles, taking fly balls under the tutelage of Yankees outfield instructor Luis Rojas. Hes had a few bad reads out there and a couple mi sed fundamentals, Rojas said. Hes picked up the ball a little late and didnt get the ball on the side on the ball in the sun. But hes a really good prospect to teach and he definitely has the tools. But he spent most of his time in the minors in center including this season. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Dominguez started 237 games in center in the minors and only 58 in left, with most of those coming last year with Double-A Somerset. Prior to getting called up this September, Dominguez started just 11 games in left this season at SWB. He doesnt have the reps, ideally, you want, Boone said. He also has a real chance to impact us here not only in the future, but now. Boone said the lack of workload in left was partially a product of Dominguez having a disjointed season that began with him rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and then was interrupted by an oblique strain. Hes played the least in left field and theres a lot of action on balls in left, Rojas said. Its been a learning experience. Rojas had Dominguez tracking balls with both right- and left-handed fungoes to adjust to different angles. Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) reacts as he walks back to the dugout. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST He knows can make those plays, Rojas said. We think hes ready to be out there. Thats why were doing the work. Boone agreed Dominguez is capable of making the adjustment. Were taking a premium athlete whos been a really good outfielder in his career and knowing he had a couple struggles here and a couple mistakes, Boone said. Theres no reason to think he shouldnt be good out there. Harry Giles III Jersey