NEW YORK — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that he was letting the decision about who to start in left field for Game 1 of the American League Division Series marinate for 24 hours.
That decision turned out to be veteran Alex Verdugo, a team source told The Athletic Friday night. Domínguez told reporters at the Yankees’ final workout before Game 1 that he was still unsure what his role would be heading into his first postseason.
“I prefer to know, obviously,” Domínguez said. “At the end of the day, it is what it is. I’m just preparing for whatever it is. Any time I have the opportunity to help the team, I’m ready to do it.”
The Yankees have played simulated games this week to stay fresh during the downtime they earned by winning the American League’s top seed. Domínguez said he played left field in those games and is growing more comfortable by the day. He’s taken extra reps with Yankees outfield coach Luis Rojas this week to give himself the best chance of being a positive defender in left field.
“I just needed more reps,” Domínguez said. “I feel like with more games and reps, it will get better.”
Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez in working out together in LF pic.twitter.com/tAeSPfqYd0
— Brendan Kuty 🧟♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) October 1, 2024
The Yankees’ decision to start Verdugo hinged on whether they preferred the more experienced defender in Verdugo or the upside of Domínguez’s bat. While the results weren’t there for Domínguez, who finished with an 84 wRC+ in 21 games, advanced metrics indicate that he should be an above-average hitter over a larger sample size. He hits the ball hard, has elite bat speed and makes encouraging swing decisions, especially for someone with limited major-league experience.
However, Domínguez’s shaky defensive performance in left field could give the Yankees some pause.
“There are a few plays, clearly, that have gotten attention, and understandably so,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday. “This is a very young, high-end prospect who has been dropped into the middle of a pennant race while playing a position he’s still developing in. It’s a tough spot to be in.”
Domínguez played 105 innings in left field after being called up in September and graded out negatively in both defensive runs saved and outs above average. But his competition for the starting left field job was not fierce. Verdugo finished his 2024 season with the 11th-lowest fWAR among all qualified position players, making him one of the least valuable all-around hitters in the sport.
Verdugo’s value comes with understanding the intricacies of Yankee Stadium’s cavernous left field. He finished the 2024 season with seven defensive runs saved. The outs above average defensive metric was lower on him, as he finished with zero OAA.
Domínguez’s power threat alone makes him an appealing option for the Yankees to consider because teams that have out-homered their opponents in the postseason have an .849 winning percentage since 2016. Last season, teams went 25-4 if they had more home runs than their opponent.
Boone also mentioned earlier in the week that the team could play the matchups with both Domínguez and Verdugo. In 12 career at-bats against Kansas City Royals Game 1 starter Michael Wacha, Verdugo is 3-for-11 with one double and one walk.
No matter what role Domínguez has, he’s looking forward to what his first postseason as a Yankee looks like.
“I’m excited to see how it’s going to be,” Domínguez said. “I hear from the guys that this place in the postseason is going to be rocking. I’m excited to see it.”
(Photo of Alex Verdugo: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)
