Jasson Dominguez’s Bronx Roadblock: Yankees’ Roster Depth Leaves ‘The Martian’ Grounded-for Now
The buzz around Yankees spring training usually centers on breakout candidates and rising stars, but this year, there’s a noticeable chill surrounding one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. Jasson Dominguez, once dubbed “The Martian” for his otherworldly potential, now finds himself on the outside looking in as the Yankees’ roster takes shape ahead of 2026.
With Cody Bellinger locked in on a new five-year deal and Trent Grisham surprisingly accepting his qualifying offer, the Yankees have doubled down on proven veterans-leaving little oxygen for Dominguez to break through. The writing isn’t just on the wall-it’s practically etched in stone. According to reports, Dominguez is likely headed back to Triple-A Scranton, and it’s not hard to see why.
A Roster Built on Floor, Not Ceiling
The Yankees are clearly building for the now. This is a team with October aspirations, not one looking to experiment with growing pains in the outfield.
Dominguez’s struggles from the right side of the plate last season didn’t help his case. His 63 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in 2025 paints a picture of a young hitter still trying to figure it out-and in the Bronx, there’s not much room for trial and error.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman hinted at this shift in perspective as far back as last September. Speaking to MLB.com, he acknowledged that optioning Dominguez during the stretch run was seriously considered.
“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 Caballero.
But I still think there’s some upside there.”
That “upside” comment is telling. Once seen as a future cornerstone, Dominguez is now being discussed as a situational asset-a speed threat off the bench. That’s a far cry from the sky-high expectations that followed his rapid rise through the system.
Boone Keeps It Real
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t sugarcoat things when asked about Dominguez’s development. While he acknowledged the 23-year-old’s natural talent, Boone pointed to the uneven splits as a real concern. Dominguez posted a .768 OPS against righties, but that number cratered to .569 when hitting right-handed.
“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 hand catches up to the left side.”
That’s a fair assessment. Dominguez’s development timeline was always going to be a little different. He burst onto the scene with raw tools that wowed scouts and fans alike, but his lack of reps-especially from the right side-has left him a step behind in a league that doesn’t wait for anyone to catch up.
No Room at the Inn
The Yankees’ depth chart is crowded, and the designated hitter spot-often a haven for young bats to get regular at-bats-is occupied whenever Giancarlo Stanton is healthy. That means there’s simply not enough playing time to go around. And for a player like Dominguez, who needs consistent reps to refine his swing and timing, riding the bench in the Bronx isn’t doing anyone any favors.
This is a familiar scenario in the Bronx. The Yankees have long preferred to let their top prospects play every day in Scranton rather than sit idle at the big-league level. It’s a development philosophy that prioritizes growth over exposure, and in Dominguez’s case, it makes sense.
The Final Piece Still to Come?
With Dominguez likely starting the season in Triple-A, the Yankees appear to be eyeing one last addition to round out their bench. Veteran right-handed bats like Paul Goldschmidt, Randal Grichuk, Ty France, and Austin Slater are reportedly on the radar. If the Yankees land a specialist who can handle left-handed pitching, it further cements Dominguez’s short-term fate.
This doesn’t mean the Yankees have given up on Dominguez-not by a long shot. But in a win-now season, potential takes a back seat to production.
The Martian still has time to make his mark. For now, though, his mission to the Bronx is on hold.