SEATTLE — With the Yankees in a bases loaded, first-inning jam on Thursday, Justin Turner lofted a flyball to Jasson Domínguez in left field. The projectile hit The Martian’s glove, but he couldn’t corral it with the sun shining at T-Mobile Park.
The Mariners only scored one run on the play, which is what they would have gotten anyway, but they totaled three in the first inning of a 3-2 Yankees’ loss.
Jasson Domínguez drops the ball, and the #Mariners take a 1-0 lead in the first.
The #Yankees are 26-42 when the opponent scores first this season.
pic.twitter.com/aBzaLc8FYi— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) September 19, 2024
The play also marked Domínguez’s second significant defensive blunder in as many days, as he misjudged another flyball off Turner’s bat in the second inning of the Yankees’ Wednesday win.
Domínguez thought that ball was going over the fence as he tracked it toward left field, but it ended up dropping on the warning track a few feet over toward right.
What the pic.twitter.com/i3KoxezuJ4
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 19, 2024
Domínguez’s trip to Seattle wasn’t all bad, though, as he hit his first major league homer of the season when he drilled a Bryan Woo changeup to center on Tuesday.
“That’s a poke,” Aaron Boone said. “To hit a changeup out the front door on a cool night here, that’s a little peek into his power.”
Domínguez also made things happen with his legs on Wednesday, stealing second base and advancing to third on a bad throw before scoring on an Anthony Rizzo single in the second inning.
On Thursday, Domínguez was gunned down at home plate, though it took a pinpointed rocket from Luke Raley to record the out.
Fly as a Martian 👽☄️ pic.twitter.com/pmmOXI89fA
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 18, 2024
With Domínguez making contributions on offense — he went 2-for-4 with a double on Thursday — but hurting the Yankees in the outfield, the Seattle series highlighted the pros and cons he’s brought since being recalled on Sept. 9.
Whether he’s been in center or left, Domínguez has not looked particularly sharp in the outfield. He had not recorded any actual errors prior to Thursday’s mishap, but a few balls have turned him around. Some of the semi-recent Tommy John recipient’s throws have also lacked juice.
The 21-year-old entered Thursday’s game with negative marks in Outs Above Average, Defensive Runs Saved, Fielding Run Value, Arm Runs Above Average and Ultimate Zone Rating, among other metrics, over an eight-game sample.
Prior to his promotion, Boone said Domínguez looked “OK” on defense at Triple-A.
“There’s room for improvement out there, no question,” Boone continued while brushing aside concerns over the top prospect’s arm. “But he’s a real athlete out there in the middle of the diamond.”
That said, Alex Verdugo — the man Yankees fans wanted Domínguez to replace for months — is a superior defender in left field. Aaron Judge, who DH’ed the first two games of the Mariners series, typically plays center and isn’t being forced out of the lineup by anyone as he chases his second MVP award.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how the Yankees use Domínguez in the playoffs, assuming he makes their postseason roster.
While he’s hitting a paltry .194 with a .629 OPS, his bat offers more upside than Verdugo’s. However, Verdugo provides a steady glove, in addition to postseason experience. The Yankees have also repeatedly expressed genuine belief in Verdugo’s abilities despite some prolonged struggles this season.
Their unwillingness to supplant him factored into the decision to delay Domínguez’s promotion. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Verdugo also limits Domínguez’s usage this October, though Yankee fans may take issue with that.
