Slowly but surely, the New York Yankees 2025 roster is starting to come together. General manager Brian Cashman and his team are still in the process of filling holes. One area of strength the Yankees have is the outfield. Jasson Domínguez will be one focus, as his return will be key.
The loss of Juan Soto in free agency was a dent in both the Yankees offense and defense. His bat was the biggest thing to depart the Bronx this offseason. The Yankees made it a priority to fill their gaps with some reputable pieces out in the grass.
The outfield situation in the Bronx is plentiful. The 40-man roster employs depth in that area, with a tentative starting three and two second-string options. Everson Pereira and Trent Grisham are on the back-end of the position.
Domínguez, Aaron Judge, and the newly acquired Cody Bellinger will cover the grounds as the starters. Judge’s capabilities are very self-explanatory, with a tremendous MVP showing in 2024. Bellinger’s talent is also evident, which is why the Yankees proceeded with the trade.
Domínguez has high expectations in what should be his first full season in the major leagues. How does he find success this season? What can the Yankees realistically expect from him?
Jasson Domínguez’s Health is Wealth
What likely would have been a good showing in 2024 for Domínguez in the big leagues was cut short. The top prospect suffered what appeared to be a minor setback, but the diagnosis was far more detrimental.
In June 2024, Dominguez’s season changed on a simple check swing in a minor league game. The injury was worse than expected, as he missed eight weeks, only seeing 56 big-league at-bats in all.
Jasson Domínguez (2)
Opponent: Oakland Athletics
Pitcher: Joey Estes
Date: 9/22/24Exit Velocity: 104mph
Distance: 397ft
Launch Angle: 25° pic.twitter.com/tht86LYlbH— Yankees Home Runs (@NYY_HR) September 22, 2024
2025 needs to have the opposite fate for Dominguez. He finally has expectations to be healthy and perform. He’s also a huge part of the new big-three outfield mix. The acquisition of Bellinger was an addition to the understanding that Judge and Domínguez are locked in to the starting outfield.
Making Up for Soto’s Loss
Soto’s contributions for the 2024 Yankees were huge. His presence, demeanor, and performance were valuable for the team. The Yankees collectively rose to the top, winning the American League East and the AL pennant, their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Soto had an All-Star season last year and recorded numbers that made the Yankees lineup very potent. He drew more walks than strikeouts, walking 129 times and striking out 119 times. His 41 home runs and 109 RBI is where Soto earned his money. He also recorded 166 hits and scored a league-leading 128 times.
These numbers need to be supplemented between Bellinger and Domínguez. Judge will hold his own, with proven numbers over the past few seasons. Bellinger is also established and expected to match or surpass his 2024 campaign.
Domínguez needs to come close to these numbers, or at least meet them halfway. This will be a tough task, playing in the American League East and possibly maneuvering his first full season in the majors.
High Hopes
Despite the injuries and constant movement between minor league levels, Jasson Domínguez has shown his tools and abilities through impressive numbers. His cumulative stats are promising for what the future may hold.
In 2024 between Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, Dominguez’s numbers still showed positivity despite the minimal playing time. He slashed .314/.376/.504, crushing 11 home runs, 35 RBI, 71 hits, and scoring 43 times.
Thankfully, Domínguez also offers aggressiveness on the basepaths. He stole 16 bags in 58 games in 2024. In 2023, he snagged 40 bags in 118 games.
The many capabilities of “The Martian” will help him thrive in a full MLB season.
Photo Credit: © Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
