Jasson Domínguez showcased his potential in the New York Yankees' 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. The 23-year-old outfielder hit a solo home run and later singled in the ninth inning to ignite the rally that secured the win for the Yankees at Nationals Park.
Domínguez has been one of the Yankees' more consistent hitters recently, batting .333 (10-for-30) over his last eight games. Despite this recent surge, his season batting average stands at .242 with a .709 OPS in 34 games. Manager Aaron Boone expressed expectations for more from the young player, noting that while Domínguez has had solid at-bats all year, he hasn't yet reached a breakthrough performance.
"I expect more," Boone said prior to the game. "I feel like really all year he’s giving solid at-bats every day, but hasn’t had that breakthrough yet. His on-base percentage should not be whatever it is [.276]. He’s so much more than that."
Boone acknowledged some recent misfortune for Domínguez, stating, "He’s been a little unlucky, especially this last week. He’s hit some balls on the screws right at people." The manager expressed hope that Domínguez is beginning to consistently square up the ball, which he believes could lead to "special things" given his speed and power.
Domínguez, a switch-hitter, has the potential to be a significant difference-maker in the Yankees lineup, especially with key players like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined. His defensive development in right field is ongoing, but increased offensive production could help offset his growing pains in the outfield.
In addition to Domínguez's offensive contributions, pitcher Ryan Weathers delivered a strong performance, holding the Nationals to one run over 5 1/3 innings. Weathers adjusted his pitch mix, relying more on his sweeper, slider, and changeup, while throwing only seven four-seam fastballs. He allowed six hits and no walks while striking out six batters.
"It’s definitely weird for me, but my job is to go out there and help the team win the ballgame," Weathers commented on his pitch selection. "If me throwing less fastballs helps us win the ballgame, I want to go out there and win every possible game I can."
Paul Goldschmidt also broke an 0-for-34 hitting streak with a single in the first inning and added another infield single later in the game. Meanwhile, reliever Angel Chivilli earned praise from Boone for his recent outings, throwing two perfect innings with three strikeouts against the Rays in the prior series, which earned him a continued spot on the roster.