It’s a long way from the Bronx, but Jasson Dominguez needs to prove himself in the Dominican Republic this winter. Leones del Escogido general manager Carlos Pena, a former big leaguer himself, said the team is ready to let Dominguez “loose” to continue to develop after a mediocre rookie season.
Dominguez is expected to report to the team “soon.”
Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, the outfield picture is getting crowded in a hurry. Dominguez, once the great hope of the Yankees’ organization, could easily find himself on the trading block this winter.
The Yankees have already extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, signaling they’re shopping aggressively for 2026 outfield stability. Kyle Tucker chatter lingers at the top of the market, and Cody Bellinger has already proven he’s perfect in pinstripes. The Yankees also have Spencer Jones in Triple-A, pushing his way to the big leagues.
And of course, Aaron Judge insists he will remain in right field despite the elbow injury that limited him last season.
So, that leaves Dominguez a limited lane and time to prove himself.
His 2025 line was fine. The 22-year-old slashed.257/.331/.388 with a.719 OPS, 10 home runs, 47 RBI in 123 games. His playing time, however, was limited at the end.
The contact quality showed up with above-average exit velo and plenty of hard-hit balls, but the damage didn’t. His barrel rate stayed modes t and the expected numbers (xwOBA/xSLG) were not great. As a switch-hitter, he was lopsided, producing more against right-handed pitchers while batting left-handed but struggling from the right side against left-handed pitchers, which helps explain his late-season usage.
His plate discipline slipped just enough to matter, with a bit more chase and whiff than you want from a bat still growing into game power. He was below average on the defensive metrics in left field, which tightened his margin once Judge returned from the injury list and again in October when his role shrank to cameos.
After Judge returned on Aug. 5, Dominguez’s role tightened. He saw fewer starts down the stretch and was even considered a situational piece heading into October. In the playoffs, Dominguez made cameos and didn’t have everyday at-bats.
For a player who came into 2025 with Rookie of the Year expectations, Dominguez fell well short. Now, he needs a winter reset.
