ORLANDO, Florida — Jasson Dominguez earned praise for maintaining a positive attitude while spending most of October on the sideline, staying involved and providing support as the Yankees played their biggest games of the season.
Now, as the Yankees navigate the Winter Meetings and explore a possible reunion with Cody Bellinger, they are also considering a scenario in which “The Martian” finally takes over a starting job.
“If Spring Training started today, he would be our left fielder,” general manager Brian Cashman said from the Signia by Hilton Orlando. “He would be in competition; Spencer Jones would try to take the title from him. But I think it’s easy to think that, by default — since Dominguez was here last year and the way his progression is going — he would be the favorite by a wide margin.”
As Cashman noted, the Yankees won’t be training on the grass about 75 miles southwest for at least a couple more months, so a lot can change. Still, the team believes Domínguez — a sought-after prospect who signed for a $5.1 million bonus in July 2019 — can regain some of the shine he lost as a prospect.
That did not happen during the 2025 season, in which Dominguez was sidelined from playing time, especially in the second half. As a result, the Yankees sent Domínguez to the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM), with a task list for him to gain additional at-bats and defensive reps with El Esído.
Domínguez did not dazzle in terms of statistics, connecting seven hits in 38 at-bats (.184) with three doubles, but the Yankees received positive reports.
“It was a small sample there,” manager Aaron Boone said, “but I think just going out there, playing in that environment and getting turns, continuing to play… I think it’s good to do that.”
Ambidextrous and about to turn 23 in February, Dominguez’s swing has been less effective from the right side, with a .530 OPS in 118 major league at-bats over the past three seasons.
Cashman said it’s a “valid question” whether Dominguez can improve against left-handed pitching. Boone attributes the problem to a lack of development opportunities; Dominguez has had to recover from Tommy John surgery and missed a Minor League season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed his progress.
“We’re talking about a very, very young player who didn’t play much in the Minor Leagues, and what part suffers because of that? The side that you don’t hit from as often,” Boone explained. “He’s a natural right-handed hitter. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that at some point that right-handed swing will catch up with the left-handed swing.”
Still, Dominguez doesn’t appear to be an immediate solution to the general manager’s concern that the lineup is “definitely” too heavy on left-handed hitting.
There is also the issue of Dominguez’s defense, which has been a work in progress for more than a year, a personal project of Bombers coach Luis Rojas that has continued throughout the winter.
Dominguez’s transition has taken longer than some expected, considering that scouts rated him as a competent — though not outstanding — center fielder early in his professional career.
The Yankees attempted to move Dominguez to left field in September 2024, before returning the starting job to Mexican-American Alex Verdugo for the playoffs. In 2025, Bellinger’s excellence on offense and defense once again left Dominguez out of the equation.
“There is still a lot to do in that improvement process,” Boone said. “It’s still relatively new for him. Even during Spring Training, the difference between how he was in February compared to April and then June, they were really big strides.
“His athleticism is one of his main qualities, as far as his speed, arm strength and things like that. And you hope that eventually makes a difference and gets him to the point of saying, ‘Wow, he’s already looking pretty good out there.’ He still has a lot of development ahead of him in that regard.”
It’s interesting, then, that Bellinger will once again influence how the Yankees will move forward with Dominguez.
If Bellinger returns or if the Yankees opt for another alternative like Kyle Tucker, both Dominguez and Jones could be part of the so-called “challenge trades” that Cashman has referred to, in which major talent moves in both directions.
But if Bellinger signs with another team — and his agent Scott Boras on Tuesday presented a large, healthy market for his services — that could open the door Dominguez needs.
“Obviously we like him and have a high opinion of Domínguez and what he can contribute,” said Cashman. “I think he still has a lot more to show.”
