The Alex Verdugo-New York Yankees union hasn’t been something price writing house about. Though the left-handed outfielder’s struggles have adopted him from the Boston Pink Sox over to The Bronx, the disappointing 2024 marketing campaign may immediate a late-season swap in left area earlier than October.
Verdugo just lately underwent an allergic battle between his hand tattoo ink and the fabric used to provide the 28-year-old’s batting gloves, which was confirmed as a chance to excuse his subpar offensive manufacturing — Verdugo’s hit .209 (18-for-86, 13 strikeouts) by means of 22 video games in August. Regardless of receiving a clear slate from this previous offseason’s commerce from Boston to New York, Verdugo nonetheless hasn’t managed to interrupt out from being a mean nook outfielder within the huge leagues, and that stagnant progress may direct Verdugo straight to a seat within the dugout pending a sudden flip-of-the-switch.
Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone is not caught in the midst of a hands-tied state of affairs with Verdugo in any respect, which may permit the group to lean towards a special path for its left-field spot within the lineup. The present main candidate for changing Verdugo is Jasson Domínguez, New York’s 21-year-old switch-hitting prospect. Domínguez has solely logged 4 huge league at-bats this season after getting eight appearances with the Yankees final season, however the younger up-and-comer might be the very best obtainable choice to go well with what New York is attempting to perform — a deep playoff run — as a substitute of Verdugo.
“The one factor I find out about Jasson is that we obtained an incredible participant sitting there that I feel has an opportunity to be a very nice participant on this league, and I am assured that he is gonna understand that potential,” Boone stated of Domínguez in June, per Sportskeeda. “… Getting back from a major damage that thankfully has gone rather well for him and for us. He is in nice form proper now, and we all know issues are gonna come up. Alternative will knock.”
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Domínguez has been strong in Triple-A Scranton, slashing .309/.366/.855 with eight house runs, 27 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 34 video games with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Domínguez can be ranked as New York’s No. 1 prospect, patiently spending the vast majority of 2024 to develop within the minor leagues whereas awaiting an opportune level to return to the Yankees and contribute. What higher time than do-or-die baseball?
New York remained atop the American League East at 78-56 on Thursday evening, however solely with a one-game lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles with 28 video games remaining within the Yankees’ common season schedule. Which means there’s nonetheless loads of time for some shifting whether or not that’d be within the division standings or New York’s outfield.