In Giancarlo Stanton, Jasson Domínguez saw the perfect role model for his new job.
The New York Yankees' top prospect has found himself on the bench in the playoffs behind left fielder Alex Verdugo. So, Domínguez, looking for tips on how to pinch hit, thought it would be best to watch Stanton, a designated hitter, as he prepares every day not to play defense yet to be ready at the plate in some of the game's biggest moments.
"I see what he's doing," Domínguez said Friday, "and I try to do the same thing. I try to stay moving. I try to stay ready. I take a couple of swings, get into the gym (and) get on the (stationary) bike."
Stanton has turned out to be the right example for Domínguez. He was one of the biggest reasons the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, knocking the go-ahead home run in a Game 3 win, then going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in the Game 4 victory. He has a 1.132 OPS in 16 at-bats this postseason, by far the best on a Yankees team that has seen Aaron Judge post a .620 OPS.
"I'll tell you what," Domínguez said. "I saw this guy every day working, every day coming in early. He's locked in right now. It's impressive."
Domínguez wants to be like Stanton when manager Aaron Boone taps him for work in a crucial spot against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS, which starts Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Domínguez said he wasn't upset to learn Verdugo would be starting over him, even though the Yankees started Domínguez in left field for the final five games of the regular season, a move that seemed like part crash course, part audition for the 21-year-old.
"Everything feels so great right now," Domínguez said during the Yankees' champagne-soaked party after their series-clinching Game 4 win Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium. "I'm going to stay ready because I know that I've got to do what I've got to do. I'll be ready when the time comes."
It was a difficult season for Domínguez, who spent the early part of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow and didn't play in a game until May 14. A mid-June oblique strain also sidelined him for a month. He hit .309 with seven home runs and 25 RBIs in 44 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
When rosters expanded Sept. 1, the Yankees didn't immediately call him up, waiting until DJ LeMahieu needed to go on the injured list Sept. 9. Even as Verdugo struggled offensively, Domínguez didn't post gaudy numbers, hitting just .179 with two home runs in 56 at-bats. He also struggled defensively, particularly in left field, where he seems unsure at times taking routes to fly balls.
It wasn't enough to unseat Verdugo, an eight-year veteran and steadier defender in left field.
It didn't sound like Boone came particularly close to using him in an offensive role in the ALDS.
"There's been a couple spots where I might have used him running for (Stanton) or something," Boone said. "I obviously haven't subbed a lot in these games, but there have been six, eight, 10 'almost' situations where this guy's in for this or I'm pinch hitting here. But it just hasn't fully developed at the end."
Wednesday, in the eighth inning of Game 3, Stanton crushed a solo shot that helped the Yankees to a 3-2 win. Thursday, Boone said he considered pinch running for Stanton two innings prior.
"I'm glad I didn't," Boone said.
Boone hasn't sensed any disappointment in Domínguez, who entered the season as the Yankees' top overall prospect, according to The Athletic's Keith Law.
"Jasson is Jasson," Boone said. "He's kind of got a joy to who he is, and you wouldn't know one way or the other. He's the same Jasson to me."
And Verdugo said he hasn't felt any tension with Domínguez.
"I like Jasson a lot," Verdugo said. "I don't want to say anything negative to him or about him in that sense. But he got his playing time. He was able to showcase and get a little bit more experience, and sometimes it clicks right away, and sometimes you have some growing pains. I think for him, he's going to be very talented (and) very good, but ... I have an actual career -- as in, I've had a track record. I've played several years in the big leagues (and) kind of done this before. And never been to the World Series, but I lean off some of my past memories and things like that."
Domínguez said he's taking the opportunity to learn from Yankees veterans.
"I'm taking swings during the games," he said. "I do my practice and my routine. You always have to stay ready. You don't know when the team is going to need you."