Yankees GM Warns Defense-Challenged $5.1 Million Rookie to ‘Earn’ Place on Team

Much has been uncertain for the New York Yankees this spring, as they have been slammed by a plague of injuries after losing the 41 home runs and .989 OPS provided last year by Juan Soto, who will play the 2025 season across the Triborough Bridge in Queens for the New York Mets.

But one area that the Yankees had set, or at least thought they had set, was the defensive outfield alignment. New free agent acquisition Cody Bellinger was slated for center, perennial MVP candidate Aaron Judge would be in right and No. 1 overall Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez was penciled in for left field.

But the shaky, to say the least, defense exhibited by Dominguez in left has thrown those seemingly safe plans into doubt. Not only have fans and Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay vented frustration with granting the starting left field spot to the 22-year-old, who was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 for a record $5.1 million bonus, even a former Yankees outfielder, Cameron Maybin, has called for Dominguez to be traded as a way to upgrade the New York defense.

Now, a far more influential figure than any fan, broadcaster or ex-player has added his own voice to the skepticism around Dominguez. Yankees general manager and senior vice president Brian Cashman on Friday said Dominguez may not be in the opening day lineup after all, and appeared to say the highly touted rookie has yet to “earn” the spot.

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“There’s a lane for him to take; I’d love for him to get that opportunity. He’s got the opportunity to take it, but he’s going to have to earn it at the same time,” Cashman said in a meeting with the media Friday.

But Cashman also cautioned that with less than three weeks to go before the official regular season begins, it is still too early to make final judgments about Dominguez, or any player. But decision time is coming soon.

“Don’t judge too much early in the camp with any of these guys,” Cashman told reporters. “The last three weeks, you hone in on what’s real and make decisions.”

Perhaps distracted by his defensive woes, Dominguez has also scuffled at the plate this spring. In 27 plate appearances over nine spring games, Dominguez has more strikeouts than hits — seven compared to five — though he does have a home run to go with four singles and one walk.

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