This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
Aaron Boone’s plans for the upcoming spring have gotten extra clear, with the Yankees’ supervisor saying this week that if there aren’t any additional additions, he would seemingly play Cody Bellinger in heart discipline, Jasson Domínguez in left discipline and Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base.
Boone revealed his intentions throughout an in-studio look with WFAN’s Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata on Tuesday, noting that Bellinger’s versatility performs into the outfield determination.
“I be ok with transferring Bellinger wherever,” Boone mentioned. “I’d ideally not like to maneuver Domínguez as a lot. So on a day the place [Giancarlo Stanton] is out and [Aaron] Choose goes to DH, I can transfer Bellinger over [to right field], throw [Trent Grisham] in heart and maintain Domínguez in left.”
Nevertheless, that didn’t maintain true final season with the Cubs, when Bellinger registered -1 DRS and 0 OAA in 403 2/3 heart discipline innings (0 DRS and -1 OAA in 794 innings as an outfielder general).
However the Yankees’ higher concern is with serving to Domínguez attain his potential. Boone mentioned that the Yankees plan to make use of the Grapefruit League schedule to “attempt to get Domínguez on top of things” in left discipline, the place he seemed shaky in a September cameo that finally led to the group beginning Alex Verdugo in every postseason sport.
On the time, Verdugo’s extra dependable protection outweighed Domínguez’s offensive potential, however the Yankees consider a full spring of preparation will permit the 21-year-old prime prospect to deal with the place change. Final season, Domínguez performed simply 11 Minor League video games in left discipline earlier than being referred to as up.
“Clearly, there are issues I must work on,” Domínguez mentioned by means of an interpreter in September. “However I really feel like with extra work, I can get there. … I’ve been working virtually every single day in left discipline, getting my fungoes, shagging, all the things. I don’t assume I’m that far [off].”
The Yankees will think about using Domínguez on the prime of the batting order, in keeping with Boone, who mentioned that he believes “Domínguez’s DNA is that, as a result of he will get on so much, he additionally has energy and may actually run, too.” By comparability, Boone mentioned Bellinger and Chisholm have a mix of energy and bat-to-ball skills that match higher in the midst of the lineup.
One other outfield choice to observe could possibly be Everson Pereira, whom Boone mentioned has totally recovered from Tommy John surgical procedure; the supervisor mentioned that he believes Pereira “can play into the combo for us.”
For months, Boone has wrestled along with his name at third base. Chisholm made all however certainly one of his begins on the place after being acquired from the Marlins in late July, regardless of by no means having performed the new nook as knowledgeable.
There have been some uncooked moments, largely associated to positioning, however Chisholm largely supplied what the Yankees wanted. His 400 1/3 innings at third base yielded -2 DRS, however 6 OAA. By comparability, Chisholm has 156 profession begins at second base (7 DRS and eight OAA in 1,330 1/3 innings).
“He was actually good at third,” Boone mentioned. “I believe individuals simply have a look at him and assume he appears to be like like extra of a second baseman, however the actuality is, he performed the heck out of third.”
If Chisholm begins the 12 months at second base, Boone mentioned he sees a spring battle between Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza for the beginning third base job.
Probably the most skilled alternative is LeMahieu, however accidents restricted him to 67 video games final season, and he has been a below-average offensive participant for the reason that starting of 2021 (.252/.336/.362, 95 OPS+).
“He’s going to have that chance,” Boone mentioned. “And the fact is, DJ has been a tremendous hitter. He’s simply been harm. And so hopefully with some well being, a few of that bat can return, as a result of he can nonetheless actually defend. Whether or not it’s an on a regular basis degree or if it’s towards lefties, I do assume there’s a position for him. I believe it’s simply going to be depending on his well being.”
