Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones address being blocked by Yankees’ vets

TAMPA – Jasson Domínguez was ready to answer questions as the Yankees’ position players officially reported to camp Sunday morning.

Those concerning his defense. The one about his right-handed swing. And, of course, those regarding Brian Cashman’s recent concession that daily reps are in the 23-year-old’s “best interest.”

The commentary made clear that a season-opening demotion to Triple-A is on the table for Domínguez, as veterans Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger clog the Yankees outfield. One of them or designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton would have to get injured for Domínguez to get regular playing time in the majors.

“Obviously I hear all that, but I try not to focus on it because there’s spring training coming up, and it’s baseball,” Domínguez said of the discussions surrounding him, which also included offseason trade rumors. “A lot of things can happen.”

Asked specifically about Cashman’s latest comment and the possibility of starting the season in the minors, Domínguez, who is coming off his first full major league campaign, added: “At the end of the day, depending on the situation, they have to do what’s best for the team. Whatever decision they make, I’ll be ready to make it.

“It’s something I can’t control. I don’t make decisions, but I’m going to do my best to get the best results possible, and that’s what I’m focused on right now.”

Domínguez could compete with the versatile Oswaldo Cabrera for the final spot on the Yankees bench, but he’s not ideally suited to be the club’s fourth outfielder. Domínguez now only plays on the left and his defense has made him a liability so far. The switch hitter didn’t show much from the right side either.

Domínguez worked on his defense and right swing throughout the offseason, playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic and heading to the Yankees’ Tampa-based player development complex on Jan. 15. He feels improved in both regards and mentioned how winter ball exposed him to experienced players and different hitting and defensive philosophies.

“I think it can help me and a lot of players see things differently,” Domínguez said.

The Martian also said he benefited mentally from his bench role last season. He entered 2025 as the Yankees’ starting left fielder, but he became a rarely used replacement as his deficiencies became evident and Grisham had a breakout season.

Domínguez noted that he was especially fortunate that the Yankees traded for Amed Rosario last summer, as the veteran and fellow player helped him adjust to his reserve role. Rosario, re-signed this winter and enjoying a spring training locker next to Domínguez, taught the young player to be ready for any opportunity.

It’s a lesson Domínguez can apply now.

The same goes for Spencer Jones, another young Yankees outfielder who Cashman says is “stuck.”

The general manager added that the prospect, who turns 25 in May and has yet to make his MLB debut, could compete for a starting job in other organizations. But Jones is behind Domínguez on the depth chart — not that that couldn’t change this spring — and would also likely need someone to get injured for regular reps to open up.

“In my mind, this is the best organization to play for,” Jones said. “If opportunities present themselves later, I think it’s for good reason and we’re trying to help the team win the World Series.”

Jones is coming off a power-packed season that was split between Double-A and Triple-A and briefly interrupted by back spasms, but his swing-and-miss tendencies and lack of contact in the zone remain a concern for the 6-7 left-handed hitter. He did his best to address that issue in the offseason, adopting a stance he believes will lead to more consistency and working on refining his cannon trajectory.

Jones did some of that work with former Rockies minor leaguer Will Haynie. Haynie, who runs H2 Baseball in Tennessee, first met Jones a few years ago.

“It’s just a lot of simple movements,” Jones said of Haynie’s advice. “I learned some different things. A lot of it is based on what Judge does with Teacherman. [Hitting]. It’s kind of the same area of ​​impact. So it’s about trying to accommodate these movements, making things work well and working quickly.

Jones also said he’s improved his speed — he stole 29 bases last year — and worked on all three outfield positions. The latter could give him an advantage in the event of an injury in the Yankees’ outfield, as the organization does not view Domínguez as a capable center fielder.

But Jones has yet to play in the majors. Is he ready to do it?

“I’m as confident as anyone in this room,” Jones said when asked. “It’s just about getting out there and proving it.”