When requested how Dominic Smith may contribute to the Yankees early on in camp, Aaron Boone gave an trustworthy evaluation.
“The reality is probably something has to happen to open up a lane there,” the supervisor mentioned. “But he’s here because we know if that lane does open up, we’ve got a quality hitter and quality person that you can add in the mix real easy.”
Quick ahead just a few weeks and Smith is not caught in visitors. As a substitute, accidents to Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbows) and DJ LeMahieu (calf) have created a smoother — if not completely clear — drive because the non-roster invitee tries to crack the Yankees’ Opening Day roster.
The 29-year-old has definitely helped himself together with his personal efficiency, tallying two homers and 7 RBI over 5 spring coaching video games. 4 of these ribbies got here on Monday evening, as Smith blooped two bases-loaded singles in a 12-3 win over the Pirates.
4-RBI recreation for Dom 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZmeHAoX2vi
Exhibition stats must be taken with a grain of salt — Baseball Reference’s Opponent High quality metric says Smith has confronted the equal of Double-A pitching on the entire this spring — however the Yankees have raved in regards to the bodily form the previous Met is in.
“The guy’s been a really good, pro hitter throughout his career,” Boone mentioned of Smith, who owns a .717 OPS over eight seasons, early in camp. “I know he feels good about where he is. He’s in good shape.”
Whereas chatting with the YES Community on Monday, Boone added, “Dom Smith has come in here and looked strong” as he went over the Yankees’ DH alternate options with Stanton sidelined.
Boone additionally talked about presumably carrying three catchers and utilizing Ben Rice and J.C. Escarra for some DH at-bats, and Everson Pereira and Pablo Reyes, one other non-roster invitee, have been listed. It’s additionally doubtless that Aaron Decide will get a bulk of DH days, and 37-year-old first baseman Paul Goldschmidt may think about as effectively.
There may nonetheless be room on the finish of the Yankees’ bench for Smith, nonetheless. A left-handed swinger, he has some pop and generally is a backup possibility at first base. He’s additionally been taking part in some left subject, although he hasn’t achieved that in main league video games since 2021, when he recorded -10 Outs Above Common.
A Met from 2017-2022, Smith loved his greatest seasons from 2019-2021. He totaled 32 homers, 125 RBI and a .787 OPS over that stretch. He’s performed only one full large league season since, as he misplaced taking part in time, struggled and was demoted by the Mets in 2022.
The 29-year-old had a mediocre yr with Washington in 2023, and he’s bounced between minor league offers since. Smith totaled 84 video games with the Reds and Purple Sox in 2024, hitting simply .233 with six homers and 34 RBI.
