Brian Cashman on Jasson Dominguez: “If he goes up to the Major Leagues, he has to play”

This 2024 season, Yankees number one prospect Jasson Dominguez was expected to have opportunities with the big team. However, the Dominican has not been able to take more than four at-bats in the entire campaign.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently explained in an interview with MLB Network the reasons why the young player, who is ranked as the 16th prospect in the entire Major Leagues, has not had the opportunities that were expected with the Yankees’ big team.

“Jasson is doing everything he needs to do right now,” Cashman said. The 21-year-old Dominican is batting .282 with five homers, 21 RBIs and four doubles in 33 games at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.

However, there is a major problem that has a name and surname for Dominguez. And it is Alex Verdugo, as Cashman explained that the Mexican outfielder has been playing better in recent games and they prefer to keep him in left field.

“Verdugo is playing better baseball lately and the evaluations we have with our coaching staff, player development team and front office are centered on: ‘What will give us more opportunities to win games?’ and Verdugo brings that to the team right now,” explained the Bombers’ manager.

Verdugo slumped hard after the All-Star break and Yankees management recognized it. “Obviously, there was a long period where he wasn’t performing as well as he is capable of, but he’s looked better lately,” Cashman said.

However, despite Verdugo’s poor performance, prospect Dominguez was unable to get his chance with the Yankees. Even Aaron Boone and his team opted to bring up Duke Ellis, a speedy outfielder who was claimed off waivers from the Mariners on August 27.

Cashman, on the other hand, indicated that the Yankees do not want to promote Dominguez if he cannot be offered playing time on a daily basis. With Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Dominican Juan Soto in the outfield and Giancarlo Stanton as the designated hitter, the manager does not see opportunities for Dominguez to play regularly on the team.

“If he comes, he has to play. He’s not going to come up and sit. That’s what we have the pinch-hitter for.” [Ellis] currently with the club, and then the same with [Jon] Berti. But at the end of the day, if (Dominguez) goes up, he has to play,” Cashman said.

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