Jasson Dom铆nguez鈥檚 play in his first full season in the big leagues has not exactly been otherworldly.
The Yankees don鈥檛 need it to be just yet, but they will take the steady production the Martian has provided them nearly halfway through the season as he tries to put his flashy tools into action 鈥 particularly with some encouraging strides he has made from his early weaknesses.
The 22-year-old Dom铆nguez entered Thursday鈥檚 off day batting .253 with a .738 OPS and a team-high 12 steals.
There may be more thump in his bat that he has yet to show 鈥 it has been more than a month since he last homered 鈥 but he has found a way to be productive in the interim.
鈥淚鈥檝e just been pleased 鈥 he鈥檚 quietly been really solid for us,鈥 manager Aaron Boone said after Dom铆nguez recorded his first career four-hit game in Wednesday鈥檚 7-1 win over the Reds.
鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 lit the world on fire yet. But I think we would all acknowledge he gives you good at-bats every day he鈥檚 in there. You see the real speed and athleticism. I feel like he鈥檚 doing a good job in the running game, too. And I鈥檓 really excited about his growth in left field.鈥
That was among the biggest concerns with Dom铆nguez entering the season as he made the full-time move from center to left field following a rough spring.
There has still been some breath-holding whenever the ball is hit to left field, but Dom铆nguez has generally become more serviceable there 80 games into the season.
The Yankees were willing to deal with Dom铆nguez鈥檚 growing pains in left field because of the impact he could make in the lineup.
Except the switch-hitter was a liability early in the season from the right side, starting the year batting 3-for-36 (.083) with a .381 OPS and 16 strikeouts against left-handers through May 5.
Since then, though, he has hit 11-for-34 (.324) with a .856 OPS and seven strikeouts against lefties.
That included two hits against southpaws Wednesday.
鈥淚鈥檝e been taking better at-bats from the right side,鈥 Dom铆nguez said. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 getting better. 鈥 I think the more you practice it and the more reps you get, the better you鈥檙e going to be at it.鈥
The Yankees do not have a right-handed hitting complement to Dom铆nguez in left field, and whether they add one by the trade deadline remains to be seen.
But if the rookie can keep building on his recent success against lefties, that may become less of a need.
As part of the Yankees鈥 ongoing outfield rotation, Boone has tried to get him in the lineup against righties, as well as lefties with more neutral splits, which appears to be working of late.
Because in 171 plate appearances as a left-handed bat, Dom铆nguez has had a strong season. He is batting .279 with a .798 OPS and five of his six home runs have come against right-handers.
鈥淚 still maintain the right side, he鈥檒l get there,鈥 Boone said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an experience/rep thing. He controls the zone equally from the right side. I just think it鈥檚 reps, experience. When it boils down to it, it鈥檚 his natural side. That said, I think he鈥檚 been very good left-handed.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a young player still that鈥檚 inexperienced and has very much held his own. He gives you a real quality at-bat.鈥
There have still been occasional hiccups for Dom铆nguez, like when he lost track of strikes and was picked off between second and third to end a rally in Boston earlier this month.
But the Yankees like how the once-ballyhooed prospect has handled all the ups and downs while putting in the work to get better.
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鈥淚鈥檝e been really impressed with his ability to make adjustments, especially for a young guy,鈥 Max Fried said.
鈥淗e seems very confident out there now,鈥 Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. 鈥淚 feel like from now on, you鈥檙e going to see a different part of the Martian. He鈥檚 going to be a big league player for the rest of his life, and he鈥檚 only 22? I think he鈥檚 special.鈥
As for that power drought, Dom铆nguez nearly snapped it Wednesday, but instead settled for a double off the center field wall. His last home run was a walk-off against the Rangers on May 21.
鈥淭he other day, I was like, 鈥業 haven鈥檛 hit a homer in a while,鈥欌夆 Dom铆nguez said. 鈥淸But] I don鈥檛 go, 鈥業 want to hit a homer.鈥 I try to have a good at-bat, get on base for my teammates. I know at some point it鈥檚 going to come.鈥