LAKELAND, Fla. — The usual for Jasson Dominguez to win the beginning job in leftfield is to kind of present the Yankees he’s able to driving in additional runs than he permits.
On the subject of the latter, it has been a curler coaster at occasions.
However it will take the unexpected for the 22-year-old to not begin in left, the place he has proven gradual enchancment all through spring coaching, when the season opens March 27 on the Stadium towards the Brewers.
“I really feel like he’s executed a very good job,” Aaron Boone stated earlier than Thursday’s 8-6 victory over the Tigers at Publix Area. “In reality, there’s been a couple of performs he’s made currently, exhibiting the vary that you simply prefer to see, too, which is consistent with what his work’s seemed like.
“Simply must play, simply must maintain getting the expertise on the market. He’ll be tremendous. However I feel he’s been doing a very good job these final week, 10 days particularly.”
Has Dominguez executed sufficient to be named the starter in left?
“I’d prefer to suppose so, yeah,” Boone stated, participating in a little bit of phrase salad. “However we’ll see. We’re nonetheless two weeks to go [in camp]. Necessary days for him nonetheless in getting these reps and persevering with to get that have. However there’s no motive in time he shouldn’t be actually good [out there], really.”
Dominguez, who had a comparatively quiet day within the discipline Thursday, had periodic struggles along with his routes to fly balls within the first two weeks of video games, however that has gotten higher of late.
“I really feel there’s positively been an enchancment,” stated Dominguez, who hit one of many Yankees’ two dwelling runs Thursday, a two-run shot. “I’ve been working every single day and I can really feel it.”
Stated Boone: “I feel his routes have been good currently. Actual direct routes. When he does that, you see the velocity and he’s in a position to actually eat up floor that almost all guys that play on the market don’t. And that’s simply finishing performs, simply having that glove accuracy and all the things, and I really feel like that continues to enhance.”
In Thursday’s fourth inning, the switch-hitting Dominguez’s bat, all the time the most-talked-about a part of his recreation and the rationale the Yankees need him within the lineup, pushed speak of route-running into the background.
Batting from the left aspect, Dominguez hammered an 0-and-1 changeup from righty Jackson Jobe deep to proper for his second Grapefruit League homer.
“I don’t want reminding,” Boone stated with a smile of Dominguez’s offensive abilities. “He’s obtained that functionality as a result of I feel he’s obtained the power to manage the strike zone with actual energy to all locations. I feel his righthanded swing’s getting higher and higher. Good to see him have a day like that.”
Max Fried, who signed as a free agent in December, stated he knew of Dominguez when he joined the Yankees and has preferred what he’s seen, each throughout video games and within the outfielder’s work.
“Prime prospect, actually gifted,” stated Fried, who allowed one run and one hit in 4 innings through which he struck out three. “He makes a whole lot of actually loud contact. Each time he swings the bat, it’s aggressive, from each side of the plate. I do know he’s studying a brand new place out in leftfield, however you see him placing within the work. He desires to be nice at it. The work ethic is there.”
Notes & quotes: Although the Yankees haven’t stated it outright, J.C. Escarra, who has but to play within the majors, is all however sure to go away camp because the membership’s backup catcher (and occasional DH). The 29-year-old, added to the 40-man roster within the offseason after impressing the Yankees — in addition to rival scouts within the minors — final season with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre, rapidly meshed with pitchers in spring coaching and has proven a dwell bat from the left aspect, hitting .357 with two homers and a .971 OPS in 11 video games. “I feel he’s very actual,” Boone stated . . . Paul Goldschmidt hit his third exhibition homer within the fourth inning, crushing an 0-and-1, 97-mph sinker by Jobe 447 toes over the batter’s eye in heart. The primary baseman hit a three-run double within the fifth to offer the Yankees a 6-1 lead . . . The Yankees have settled on an Opening Day starter — both Marcus Stroman or Carlos Rodon are the secure bets — however Boone stated on Thursday he wasn’t but able to say publicly who it will likely be.
