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With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Yankees were still experimenting in left field.
Jasson Dominguez was back in the unfamiliar spot again Thursday against the Orioles after looking uncomfortable on a handful of plays since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
It’s clear that the team is not set at the spot, as Dominguez is splitting time with Alex Verdugo and Aaron Boone said Thursday the Yankees were “just trying to let things declare themselves here in this final week.”
That’s hardly an ideal situation, but Verdugo hasn’t hit well enough to guarantee a starting role there in the playoffs — and neither has Dominguez.
Boone didn’t even rule out the possibility, when presented the potential scenario, of shifting Aaron Judge back from center to right, Juan Soto to left, where he’s played for most of his career, and Dominguez to center.
When asked if the team had considered that outfield deployment, Boone said, “Not yet.”
Would he?
“We’ll see.”
They’ve avoided putting Soto in left because of the spacious dimensions there at Yankee Stadium.
Boone said defense would “a big factor” in the decision, adding that Verdugo has been “tremendous” defensively.
“Especially in the postseason, outs need to be outs,’’ Boone said. “Things are gonna happen and guys are gonna make mistakes here and there, but defense is a huge part of it.”
If that’s the case, Verdugo has the edge, but the Yankees clearly haven’t given up hope that Dominguez can spend time in left, since he was in the lineup against right-hander Corbin Burnes with the lefty-swinging Verdugo on the bench.
“Jasson has certainly had his struggles the last couple weeks out there,’’ Boone said. “But he also has got the ability to be really good out there.”
Which is why Dominguez was in left field early before Thursday’s game against the Orioles, taking fly balls under the tutelage of Yankees outfield instructor Luis Rojas.
“He’s had a few bad reads out there and a couple missed fundamentals,” Rojas said. “He’s picked up the ball a little late and didn’t get the ball on the side on the ball in the sun. But he’s a really good prospect to teach and he definitely has the tools.’’
But he spent most of his time in the minors in center — including this season.
Dominguez started 237 games in center in the minors and only 58 in left, with most of those coming last year with Double-A Somerset.
Prior to getting called up this September, Dominguez started just 11 games in left this season at SWB.
“He doesn’t have the reps, ideally, you want,’’ Boone said. “He also has a real chance to impact us here — not only in the future, but now.”
Boone said the lack of workload in left was partially a product of Dominguez having a “disjointed season” that began with him rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and then was interrupted by an oblique strain.
“He’s played the least in left field and there’s a lot of action on balls in left,” Rojas said. “It’s been a learning experience.
Rojas had Dominguez tracking balls with both right- and left-handed fungoes to adjust to different angles.
“He knows can make those plays,’’ Rojas said. “We think he’s ready to be out there. That’s why we’re doing the work.”
Boone agreed Dominguez is capable of making the adjustment.
“We’re taking a premium athlete who’s been a really good outfielder in his career and knowing he had a couple struggles here and a couple mistakes,’’ Boone said. “There’s no reason to think he shouldn’t be good out there.’’
