New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has sat rookie Jasson Dominguez two of the last three games. In both of those games, the Yankees were facing a right-handed starting pitcher. This season, in 63 plate appearances against righties, Dominguez has put up the following stats:
- .316 AVE
- .381 OBP
- .491 SLG
- .872 OPS
As a left-handed hitter, Dominguez is living up to his previous hype as one of the major’s top hitting prospects. However, his results on the right-side are alarming enough to make you wonder if the Yankees can stick with him as a switch-hitter. In 41 plate appearances against lefties, he’s compiled the following stats:
- .086 AVE
- .220 OBP
- .171 SLG
- .391 OPS
“I think it’s inexperience”, said Boone. “He just hasn’t played a ton of baseball for a 22-year-old. So that really shows up on the right side where you’re obviously getting less at-bats. I think he has the makings to be good over there. While acknowledging it’s been a struggle there too”.
BOONE’S CHALLENGE
Boone’s managerial challenge is trying to give Dominguez right-handed reps, while also trying to ensure that he gives ample at bats to three other lefties (Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham in the OF, and Ben Rice at DH). That’s led to Dominguez only get one at bat against a righty since Monday.
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That’s not a formula for his development, yet Boone doesn’t want to give up on him as a switch-hitter. “I feel like he’s shown signs of really controlling the zone from that side”, Boone said. “There’s been some swing-and-miss there. He’s got a couple really big hits for us from that side too. One of those things you got to keep working at and be a little patient with a young player.”
I agree with that last statement; Boone needs to be patient. In 2023, Boone and the Yankees decided to sink or swim with Anthony Volpe at SS. They did so in bad times when he batted .174 in May and .160 in September, and in good times when he hit 7 homers and batted .256 in August. Some young players take off from day one, others need time to develop.
While Grisham, 28, and Bellinger, 29, are very important to the Yankees 2025 goals, both are unrestricted free agents in the fall. The Yankees are hoping Dominguez is a big part of the future, but the truth is, when he is batting lefty, he’s already a big part of their present. Despite his concerning righty/lefty splits, Baseball America has already put him in the conversation for the American League Rookie-of-the-Year.
Boone’s job will only get harder when Giancarlo Stanton gets healthy. He’s going to be tempted to play the vets, but Dominguez’s upside is too good to keep him on the bench, specifically when a right-hander is on the opposing mound. Let’s let the kid play.
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