Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The New York Yankees have a loaded outfield heading into the 2026 season, with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham both re-signed. This leaves young prospects Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones competing for limited opportunities. In an interview, manager Aaron Boone praised both players but acknowledged the difficult roster decisions ahead, saying “a lot can happen between now and March 25th” when the team opens the season.

Why it matters

The Yankees’ outfield depth creates a challenging situation for Dominguez and Jones, two highly touted prospects who are ready to make an impact at the major league level. Their ability to earn playing time will be crucial for the team’s success and the development of these young talents.

The details

Dominguez, 23, has already seen big league action and showed growth in 2025 despite injury setbacks. Jones, a 2022 first-round pick, had a breakout season in the minors, smashing 35 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A. With Bellinger and Grisham locked in as starters, Dominguez and Jones are essentially competing for the same shrinking pool of opportunities.

The Yankees open the 2026 season on March 25th.Dominguez, 23, had a solid 2025 season despite injuries.
The players

Cody Bellinger

The Yankees’ starting center fielder, signed to a five-year deal.

Trent Grisham

The Yankees’ starting right fielder, re-signed in the offseason.

Jasson Dominguez

A highly touted Yankees prospect, 23, who has already seen big league action and is competing for a roster spot.

Spencer Jones

A 2022 first-round pick by the Yankees, 25, who had a breakout minor league season with 35 home runs.

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What they’re saying

“Well, we think very highly of both of those guys and they’re young players that are continuing to develop and get better. And in Dominguez’s case, it was a 22-year-old last year that really had a solid year and grew a lot and he’s also a guy that’s missed a lot of time with different injuries in the Minor League. So it’s both guys we think are going to be really, really outstanding Major League players.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager (MLB Network)

“A lot can happen between now and March 25th or whenever it is that we open. So I try not to get too ahead of myself with that. The reality is those guys are going to absolutely impact us this year and we’ll just see how it shakes out over the next four weeks.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager (MLB Network)

What’s next

The Yankees will continue to evaluate Dominguez and Jones throughout spring training, with roster decisions to be made by March 25th when the team opens the season.

The takeaway

The Yankees’ outfield depth creates a challenging situation for top prospects Dominguez and Jones, who must prove themselves this spring to earn playing time on a crowded roster. Their development and ability to contribute will be crucial for the team’s success in 2026.