Jasson Domínguez didn’t exactly quiet concerns about his left field defense when he misplayed a few balls early this spring, but it’s been relatively smooth sailing since then.
“Compared to the start of spring training, I definitely feel more comfortable,” the 22-year-old said before camp ended.
That’s good news for the Yankees with a new season set to begin Thursday, as they’re counting on their top prospect, a natural center fielder, to play adequate defense in left while adding a spark to their lineup. Domínguez failed to do both last September when he had a chance to supplant Alex Verdugo, but the Yankees opted against bringing in competition for The Martian over the winter anyway.
“I saw, obviously, that they didn’t bring [in] another left fielder,” Domínguez said. “But in my mind, even if they did bring in another left fielder, I knew that I needed to work on that and get better.”
That work has involved a lot of time spent with Luis Rojas, the Yankees’ outfield coach. Domínguez said the two work on “everything that you can think of.” That included route-specific drills and tracking balls off fungoes and machines during spring training.
“We all know he’s got great tools, and we really, really think that he’s gonna be successful,” Rojas said earlier in the spring after Domínguez had a rough day in left.
Weeks later, Domínguez is not the only one encouraged by his progress.
“I’ve really been excited about his routes,” Aaron Boone said. “They have been really good. He’s gotten to some balls that not a lot of people get to. Even a couple plays he hasn’t made, go back and look at them, they’re low-percentage plays that most people don’t even get there. He’s doing a really good job with that.”
Boone also said that he liked the way Domínguez swung the bat toward the end of the spring. He ended exhibition play with a .258/.292/.452 slash line, three home runs and 12 RBI.
If Domínguez’s bat lives up to the hype, his defense will become an afterthought in the Bronx. That’s no guarantee given the immense expectations that have been placed on the rookie since he was a teenager, but Domínguez seems to be handling all the noise well as he braces for his first extended shot at being a big league starter.
“He’s comfortable in his skin,” Boone said. “Through a couple of mistakes last year, he owns it. He’s easy to talk to about it and coach about it. He expects a lot of himself, kind of quietly. He’s kind of got that easy smile and easy way about him, but he expects a lot of himself, too.
“As do we.”
WELLS WILL MAKE HISTORY
After batting first all spring, Austin Wells is staying put.
Boone told Talkin’ Yanks that Wells will be the Yankees’ leadoff man to start the season, including on Opening Day. However, Paul Goldschmidt could fill the spot against lefties.
Like Goldschmidt, Wells has never been a leadoff hitter in the majors. In fact, no Yankees catcher has ever done the job.
However, the sophomore did it well this spring. Wells hit .348 with a 1.183 OPS, six homers and 12 RBI during exhibition play.
RICE OFFICIALLY MAKES TEAM
While it was long assumed that Domínguez and Ben Rice would make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, Boone didn’t officially announce that until Tuesday afternoon, per NJ.com’s Max Goodman.
A left-handed swinger who can play first and catch, Rice has earned some looks in the DH role with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined by his elbows. Rice had an explosive spring after gaining 10-15 pounds since June, crushing five homers while regularly recording exit velocities over 100 mph.
