Late in the 2023 season, Jasson Domínguez made a remarkable debut as a rookie, hitting home runs in four of his first eight games. However, a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that required Tommy John surgery prematurely ended his season. The injury kept him out for most of the following season, during which Domínguez managed a .179 average in 18 games, raising concerns about his 2025 performance.
At 22, with a .267 batting average and a .771 OPS, Domínguez has become one of the Yankees’ most reliable players. His strong performance, peaking in the last month, has been crucial for a lineup that struggled, including three consecutive scoreless games in June.
“It hasn’t been the spectacular season,” manager Aaron Boone commented recently. “But I feel like it’s been really steady and really solid.”
Signed by New York as a 16-year-old in 2019, Domínguez is hitting .391 in July over five games, with two home runs—both in a loss to the Mets where he was the leadoff hitter. He’s batted .455 from the top spot but only in 11 at-bats.
“We’ll see [about him leading off]. The leadoff spot has been a strong point this year,” Boone said after the series-opening loss. “It’s possible, love his at-bats right now.”
Being a switch-hitter, Domínguez naturally bats right-handed but started hitting left-handed at 12. He performs better from his non-dominant side, hitting nearly .100 points higher against righties with an OPS almost .300 points greater.
Domínguez has played in 75 of the Yankees’ 90 games this season, appearing throughout the lineup. Most at-bats have been from the seventh spot, hitting just .188 in 80 at-bats. To consistently bat higher, his performance against left-handers must improve, but his speed ensures frequent play.
The Dominican Republic native leads the Yankees with 14 stolen bases and has been caught stealing only once. His baserunning is in the 94th percentile, considered elite, compensating for his poor defense.
Domínguez is last among Yankees outfielders in defensive runs saved at -4, with his -5 outs above average ranking him third-worst among leftfielders. Still, Boone believes Domínguez has progressed defensively.
Despite defensive issues, Domínguez’s hitting makes him a valuable asset for the Yankees now and in the future. Improvement from his natural side could see him consistently batting near the top of the lineup.
“Even though he doesn’t have the results yet that he’s had from the left side, he controls the zone right-handed,” Boone noted. “I feel like it’s merely an experience thing for him. As he gets more and more reps from that side, it’ll start to sync up and be a little bit more in line with who he is left-handed.”
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