With Jasson Domínguez sitting against right-handed Padres starter Nick Pivetta on Monday night, Aaron Boone was asked how he decides on the Yankees’ starting outfield each day.
“It’s Brad [Ausmus] and I getting together every night,” the Yankees manager replied. “We’ll look at the week ahead. The one thing that’s not perfect is that a lot of them are lefty vs. the righty. So there’s not just the obvious ‘this guy here.’ So you’re just trying to balance, as best you can, a little bit of the matchup thing, while also keeping guys fresh and relevant, while also rewarding the guys that are really playing at a high level.
“So it’s a little bit of a puzzle. It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but a challenge because of a good thing, because guys are performing and deserve to play. So just the best we can, just try and keep guys sharp and available.”
The Yankees have four outfielders who are capable of being everyday players in Domínguez, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge. Judge, the best hitter on the planet right now, has played in every one of the Yankees’ games up to this point, though the right fielder has served as a DH, too.
Grisham, a talented defender in center, has gone from being barely used in 2024 to a near-everyday player in 2025. He’s earned that, as he took a .979 OPS into Monday’s game.
Then there’s Bellinger and Domínguez, who can both play left field. The former has struggled so far at the plate, while the latter turns lots of flyballs into adventures.
However, Domínguez is hitting .312/.382/.475 against righties this season, which led some to wonder why he wasn’t in Monday’s lineup instead of Bellinger, who was hitting .200/.276/.364 overall. Monday wasn’t the first time Bellinger got the nod over Domínguez against a righty, either. That’s left some to question the Yankees’ usage of the still-developing, 22-year-old Domínguez despite his defensive deficiencies, which were on display in Sunday’s loss to the Rays.
Domínguez has accounted for -4 Outs Above Average this season, while Bellinger – who can play all three outfield spots – has zero in left and one overall.
With rain falling and visibility poor, the veteran made a solid sliding catch in the first inning of Monday’s game.
Could LeMahieu Return Soon?
Asked how many more rehab games he’ll play in, DJ LeMahieu said, “I don’t know,” before adding, “Not too many more.”
The infielder planned on playing at Triple-A on Tuesday. He added that his right hip is feeling good after recently receiving a preemptive cortisone shot.
Boone didn’t have definitive plans in place for the rest of LeMahieu’s week, but the manager said “it’s possible” the veteran joins the Yankees for their upcoming West Coast trip.
Boone also said second base is “more in play” than third base when LeMahieu returns, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. out with an oblique strain.
Volpe Back In The Lineup
Anthony Volpe returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Monday. He missed Sunday’s game after hurting his shoulder on Saturday, but an X-ray and an MRI yielded encouraging results.
Boone said he felt comfortable putting Volpe back in the lineup after the shortstop, trainers and a doctor weighed in.
“I feel like we dodged something there,” Boone said, but the Yankees will continue to monitor Volpe.
Stroman’s Next Step
Marcus Stroman (knee) was scheduled for a bullpen session on Monday. If all went well, Boone said he expected the righty to face live hitters later in the week.
Another Boone Coaching
Boone isn’t the only active member of his family in the coaching ranks now, as his brother, Bret, was named the Rangers’ new hitting coach on Monday.
A first-time coach, Bret played for the Mariners, Reds, Braves, Padres and Twins from 1992-2005. He was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover and two-time Silver Slugger.
