LF Martian: Another Day, Another Miscue?
Two games into Spring Training, and Jasson Dominguez has picked up where he left off defensively last year, fueling concerns among fans about his fielding ability.
During the third inning of a matchup against Detroit, Tigers first baseman Colt Keith popped up to left field. What appeared to be a routine fly ball was lost in the bright Florida sun, landing untouched on the left-field grass of George M. Steinbrenner Field, prompting a collective gasp from Yankees fans.
Dropped routine fly balls obscured by the sun happen, but this is Jasson Dominguez, a highly touted prospect whose defensive misplay late last year raised questions about his ability to play the field. Concerns were significant enough that the Yankees opted for Alex Verdugo in left field for the postseason.
Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg
The very next inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked by the Yankees announcers, "Do you see at any point that you may make that switch and put Bellinger over at left? Will Bellinger get reps there, or do you see Dominguez as a full-time left fielder?"
Boone responded, "Belli can play anywhere, any day, but he is just so good in the middle of the diamond that I want to try and use that. Then Grish (Grisham) factors in, so on the days Grish is playing, I can move him to center, and then Belli plays the open position. I don't want to necessarily get in the habit of moving Dominguez back and forth."
Boone added that it is something he is paying attention to and that the team will do what needs to be done as everything unfolds.
As Boone was speaking, Tigers batter Andy Ibáñez hit a ball to left field, and Dominguez may not have taken the best route to make the play. His development in left field remains something to watch as the season progresses. However, I believe Dominguez will continue to refine his positioning and reads, ultimately growing into a reliable everyday left-fielder and a key contributor for the Yankees in the years ahead.
If there was one silver lining on the play, it was former Yankee Jahmai Jones getting thrown out at home by a wide margin