Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The New York Yankees are facing a dilemma with their top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez, as the team’s crowded outfield situation leaves no clear path for playing time for the 22-year-old. After Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger were added to the roster, joining star Aaron Judge, the Yankees may be forced to send Dominguez back to the minors to start the season so he can continue developing and get regular at-bats.

Why it matters

Dominguez is considered one of the top young talents in baseball, but the Yankees’ strong outfield depth means they have to carefully manage his development and playing time. This is a good problem to have, but it still presents a challenge for the organization in maximizing Dominguez’s potential while also fielding the best possible major league roster.

The details

Dominguez’s playing time dropped significantly in the second half of the 2025 season, and with Bellinger and Grisham now joining Judge in the Yankees’ outfield, it’s unclear how the team plans to find regular at-bats for the 22-year-old prospect. Keeping Dominguez on the MLB roster may not make the most sense, as the Yankees could opt to send him to the minors to start the season so he can continue developing and get consistent playing time.

Dominguez’s playing time decreased in the second half of the 2025 season.The Yankees signed Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the 2025-2026 offseason.
The players

Jasson Dominguez

The Yankees’ top outfield prospect, considered one of the top young talents in baseball.

Aaron Judge

The Yankees’ star outfielder and one of the best players in MLB.

Trent Grisham

An outfielder who accepted the Yankees’ $22.025 million qualifying offer in the offseason.

Cody Bellinger

An outfielder who re-signed with the Yankees on a long-term deal in the offseason.

Brian Cashman

The Yankees’ general manager who will have to make decisions about Dominguez’s future.

Aaron Boone

The Yankees’ manager who will have to figure out how to best utilize Dominguez.

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What they’re saying

“Dominguez’s playing time dropped significantly in the second half last season, and with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham returning to join Aaron Judge in the outfield, it’s unclear how the Yankees intend to find at-bats for Dominguez.”

— Bryan Hoch, MLB.com reporter (MLB.com)

What’s next

The Yankees will have to decide whether to keep Dominguez on the major league roster or send him to the minors to start the 2026 season, in order to ensure he gets regular playing time and continues his development.

The takeaway

The Yankees’ outfield depth is a good problem to have, but it presents a challenge in managing the development of their top prospect Jasson Dominguez. The team will have to carefully weigh their options to maximize Dominguez’s potential while also fielding the best possible major league roster.