TAMPA — Jason Dominguez heard the speech.
A year ago, he arrived at spring training with the starting job in left field that he would lose.
On Sunday, he reported to Yankees Camp as the fourth outfielder, with a possible trip to Triple-A in late spring if everyone stays healthy.
In the space of 365 days, his role has become much less certain.
“This is baseball, a lot of things can happen,” Domínguez said Sunday. “Ultimately, depending on the situation, they have to do what’s best for the team. Whatever decision they make, I’ll be ready.”
The reality is that it will only take one injury to the expected starting lineup of Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge, or to DH Giancarlo Stanton, for Domínguez to reenter the picture.
The same goes for the Yankees’ top outfield prospect, Spencer Jones, whose path to the major leagues is currently blocked.
But in the meantime, when he starts the first training with the full squad on Monday, the 23-year-old Domínguez could face an uphill battle to actually break camp with the big league club.
“That’s something I have no control over,” he said. “I don’t make the decisions. But I try to do my best to get the best possible results. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”
General manager Brian Cashman acknowledged Friday that it would be in Domínguez’s best interest to play every day, which will likely only happen at Triple-A barring injury.
After playing an everyday role for the Yankees through the first few months of last season, Domínguez began to be squeezed out of playing time once they were fully healthy and in the playoff chase.
Since then, the Yankees have only become more financially invested in the two outfielders, in the manner of Domínguez, Bellinger (who re-signed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract) and Grisham (who accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer).
“First and foremost, JD is a very good player who has had a good season for a 22-year-old in his first full year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He has gained a lot of valuable experience. We think there is a lot more in it. I think he has a chance to become an excellent player. We are shaking things up. We still have a long way to go between now and opening day. The most important thing is that he is here to work, here to get better. When decisions come our way, we will make them the best we can.”
The best thing Domínguez can do this spring is force the Yankees into a tough decision, which could happen if he shows he’s made gains in two clear areas: defensively in left field and offensively from the right side of the plate.
The switch-hitter struggled with the former, recording minus-seven defensive runs, saved after a rocky transition from center to left, and the latter, his OPS nearly 200 points lower from the right compared to the left.
Improving in both areas has been an offseason focus for Domínguez, who played 11 games in the Dominican Winter League and will now have another proving ground this spring to show how much progress he has actually made.
He’s coming off a season in which he had 429 big league plate appearances (he hit .257 with a .719 OPS and 23 steals), but will have to fight for every hit he gets in 2026.
“The reality is we have two boys [Domínguez and Jones] who we think could very well be in the Major League,” said Boone, who added that he might also be able to give Domínguez some work in center field. “In Jasson’s case, he’s already proven that to some extent. So this spring it is important that they can play regularly and continue to hone their craft.”
Jones, who turns 25 in May, put himself on the cusp of the big leagues last year with a strong season that ended at Triple-A.
The midfielder will likely go there to start 2026, barring an upset, but has a chance to make even more noise this spring as he waits for his shot.
“In my opinion, this is the best organization to play for,” Jones said. “If the opportunities come later, I think it’s for a reason because we’re trying to help the team win the World Series.”
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