Yankees Prospect Threatening Alex Verdugo’s Role In New York?

The Alex Verdugo-New York Yankees union hasn’t been anything worth writing home about. Although the left-handed outfielder’s struggles have followed him from the Boston Red Sox over to The Bronx, the disappointing 2024 campaign could prompt a late-season switch in left field before October.

Verdugo recently underwent an allergic battle between his hand tattoo ink and the material used to produce the 28-year-old’s batting gloves, which was confirmed as a possibility to excuse his subpar offensive production — Verdugo’s hit .209 (18-for-86, 13 strikeouts) through 22 games in August. Despite receiving a clean slate from this past offseason’s trade from Boston to New York, Verdugo still hasn’t managed to break out from being an average corner outfielder in the big leagues, and that stagnant growth could direct Verdugo straight to a seat in the dugout pending a sudden flip-of-the-switch.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone isn’t stuck in the middle of a hands-tied situation with Verdugo at all, which could allow the organization to lean toward a different direction for its left-field spot in the lineup. The current leading candidate for replacing Verdugo is Jasson Domínguez, New York’s 21-year-old switch-hitting prospect. Domínguez has only logged four big league at-bats this season after getting eight appearances with the Yankees last season, but the young up-and-comer could be the best available option to suit what New York is trying to accomplish — a deep playoff run — instead of Verdugo.

“The one thing I know about Jasson is that we got a great player sitting there that I think has a chance to be a really great player in this league, and I’m confident that he’s gonna realize that potential,” Boone said of Domínguez in June, per Sportskeeda. “… Coming back from a significant injury that fortunately has gone really well for him and for us. He’s in great shape right now, and we know things are gonna come up. Opportunity will knock.”

Domínguez has been solid in Triple-A Scranton, slashing .309/.366/.855 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 34 games with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Domínguez is also ranked as New York’s No. 1 prospect, patiently spending the majority of 2024 to develop in the minor leagues while awaiting an opportune point to return to the Yankees and contribute. What better time than do-or-die baseball?

New York remained atop the American League East at 78-56 on Thursday night, but only with a one-game lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles with 28 games remaining in the Yankees’ regular season schedule. That means there’s still plenty of time for some shifting whether that’d be in the division standings or New York’s outfield.