What’s Next for Jasson Dominguez? Yankees’ Young Star Likely Headed to Triple-A to Start 2026
As the Yankees gear up for the 2026 season, most of the roster questions have been answered. The outfield is set, the lineup is taking shape, and the roles are mostly defined - except for one.
Jasson Dominguez, once the crown jewel of New York’s farm system, now finds himself in a bit of limbo. The question isn’t about his talent - it’s about timing, opportunity, and development.
According to recent reports, Dominguez is likely to begin the season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. While the Yankees haven’t made anything official, the move would make a lot of sense given the current roster construction and Dominguez’s need for consistent at-bats.
Let’s break it down.
A Logjam in the Bronx
The Yankees’ outfield is full - and not just with bodies, but with players who are expected to play every day. That leaves Dominguez, who’s still just 23, without a clear path to regular playing time. And for a player still refining his game, sporadic at-bats off the bench won’t cut it.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman acknowledged as much when reflecting on last season.
“He wasn’t playing. I could have sent him to Triple-A,” Cashman said.
“I didn’t think that was right to do, either. He provided the chance for us to run into something off the bench, especially with his speed to go along with José Caballero.
But I still think there’s some upside there.”
There is upside - that’s never been in question. But upside doesn’t grow on the bench.
Dominguez needs reps, and he needs them consistently. After returning from injury last season, he struggled to find a rhythm, especially against left-handed pitching, hitting just .186 with one home run and nine RBIs in limited action.
That’s not the kind of split you want to see from a switch-hitter, particularly one expected to be a core piece of the future.
The Development Curve
Aaron Boone put it plainly: Dominguez is still raw.
“We’re talking about a very, very young player that didn’t play a ton of Minor League baseball,” Boone said. “And what suffers from that?
The side you don’t hit from as much. He’s a natural right-handed hitter, so I don’t think it’s out of the question that at some point the right-handed catches up to the left side.”
That’s a key insight. Dominguez’s development has always been unique - he rocketed through the minors, made a splashy debut, and then hit a speed bump with injuries and inconsistent playing time.
Now, the Yankees have to decide what’s best for his long-term growth. And right now, that means regular at-bats in Triple-A, where he can work on his approach from the right side and continue to refine his defense.
Let’s not forget: Dominguez struggled in the field last season, particularly in left. He wasn’t just adjusting to big-league pitching - he was still learning the nuances of outfield play at the highest level.
That’s not unusual for a young player, especially one who missed so much developmental time early on. But it reinforces the idea that he’s not quite ready for a full-time role in the Bronx - at least not yet.
The Right Move, Even If It’s a Tough One
Sending a top prospect back to Triple-A is never an easy call. It’s not the birthday gift Dominguez wanted, but it’s the one that might help his career in the long run. The Yankees have seen this before - sometimes, the best thing you can do for a young player is give them space to grow.
There’s no question Dominguez has the tools. Power, speed, switch-hitting ability - it’s all there.
But the Yankees are playing the long game here. If they want him to be a foundational piece, they can’t rush the process.
Let him go to Scranton, get everyday reps, face lefties, make mistakes, learn from them, and come back stronger.
Because when he is ready - and he will be - the Yankees want to make sure there’s no doubt about his role. Not as a bench piece.
Not as a platoon bat. But as a cornerstone.
For now, that road runs through Triple-A. And that’s okay.