The New York Yankees are going to look a lot different next season than they did in 2024. Namely, the outfield has undergone major changes. On Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone announced on WFAN 660 what the team’s plans are next year in the outfield. In addition to the captain, Aaron Judge, moving back to his natural position in right field, center field will be occupied by offseason trade acquisition Cody Bellinger.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone on @WFAN660 with @BTandSal says it’s likely that Cody Bellinger would start in CF with Jasson Domínguez in LF.
Talked about how if he needs to, he’s able to move around Bellinger a little bit considering who needs DH days.
“Ideally, would not like…
— Brendan Kuty ?
(@BrendanKutyNJ) January 28, 2025
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As for left field, Yankees fans will be happy to learn that the team plans on starting Jasson Domínguez in left field. They saw a glimpse of what that looked like at the end of last season, with Domínguez starting 13 games in left across August and September. Though “The Martian” has shown a lot of promise in his young career, there are also some concerns that have arisen, particularly with his fielding skills.
Aaron Boone Discusses Yankees’ Outfield Plans for 2025
Defensive Troubles
Touted for his hitting prowess and switch-hitting ability throughout his minor league career, Domínguez almost got the nod to start in left for the Yankees last postseason. This didn’t happen, though, as they opted to start Alex Verdugo purely because of his superior fielding ability. This made a lot of sense considering the numerous defensive blunders the 21-year-old made, showcasing that perhaps his fielding was not yet major league-ready.
Granted, Domínguez is a natural center fielder, so switching to left obviously came with a learning curve. But, especially in Yankee Stadium, left field may not be too suitable for a young player who has apparent weaknesses on the defensive front. Bellinger, who has eight years of major league experience at all outfield positions, might make a better fit in left field. Also considering that Bellinger may not return in 2026, it would make more sense for the Yankees to allow their top prospect to adjust to the majors at his natural position.
Secondary Options
Boone also stated that Everson Pereira, another highly-regarded outfield prospect, will be “healthy and ready to go” next season after undergoing UCL surgery in June. The 23-year-old struggled in his major league debut in 2023, hitting .151/.233/.194 over 27 games. Of course, he likely won’t be the Yankees’ fourth outfielder, since that spot belongs to Trent Grisham. But if he has an impressive spring training, or if injuries pile up, he may get another crack on the major league roster.
The Last Word
In spite of the weak spot in left field, the Yankees are looking pretty solid in terms of the outfield with Judge and Bellinger patrolling right and center, respectively. Perhaps Domínguez will improve and/or adjust to left field, and at the very least there is protection next to him with the Gold Glove-winning Bellinger. Regardless, New York’s outfield could once again be one of the best in baseball come next season.
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