As Jasson Dominguez slugged his fourth home run in the Yankees - Phillies game on Saturday, the questions on whether the 20-year-old will make the team this spring continue to swirl in the minds of fans and coaches alike. During an in-game interview with Yankee skipper Aaron Boone, he said "Never say never" when it comes to the impressive youths making the team. Dominguez is absolutely making a case to be a big leaguer sooner rather than later despite his lack of reps in upper minor league play.
“I’ve got to focus on the present and whatever I have in front of me,” Domínguez said through the team’s interpreter. “Definitely not something that I’m paying close attention to or thinking about, I’m just focusing on day-to-day stuff and getting that work done," reported NJ.com. With Harrison Bader out on the IL with a strained oblique due to an awkward swing on Wednesday, centerfield is another open position as the Yankees head toward opening day in just over 2 weeks.
The Yankees will have to look to fill that position and consider their best options for left field as well. They could move Aaron Judge to center temporarily or look to someone from a group that includes Rafael Ortega, Aaron Hicks and Estevan Florial. But why not Dominguez who is a natural centerfielder?
Well one reason he won't be in the Bronx anytime soon is because Domínguez appeared in only five games with Double-A Somerset last season, after killing it in 40 games with High-A Hudson Valley Renegades. The other reason may be even more convincing.
"If the Yankees are hesitant to call top prospect Anthony Volpe up to start at shortstop — where they have an open competition — it’s hard to believe they’d be on board with Domínguez effectively skipping two levels to go straight to the Bronx. Volpe has had 89 at-bats in Triple-A and 422 in Double-A. That’s much more than Domínguez," reported NJ.com.
The reality is he just may not be ready. The other consideration is that most of his home runs have come against other peer minor league pitchers, except for Saturday's dinger against the Phillies Connor Brogdon. My reality is this...if the Yankees don't have who they need to kick off this season with a bang, then let the youngster play. Why do we have suffer with mediocrity when we have an incredible depth in our farm?
I have always said that the Yankees or any team for that matter, need to consider their talent closely and put the best team on the field each game. Sometimes they have to go with youth over experience if youth is killing it. Just because you are veteran doesn't mean you the best option. And with the way Dominguez is playing, he may just be the spark the Yankees need to get things going opening day and beyond.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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