The New York Yankees fans’ prayers have been heard, and Alex Verdugo is totally on board with it! Jason Dominguez is back in the majors; Verdugo’s recent performance wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, and with the way things were going, a lineup change was definitely in order. Although Yankees manager Aaron Boone was initially hesitant about making a move like this, it looks like he’s had a change of heart. So, why the shift?

There were even rumors that Boone was holding back the 25-year-old Dominguez to keep his rookie status for next year. But with the stakes so high, it seems Boone’s decided to push all his chips in for a Yankees win. Plus, with the Yankees carrying their August struggles right into September and the Orioles breathing down their necks on the leaderboard, Boone knew he couldn’t afford to take any chances. And guess what? Alex Verdugo agrees to it.

How does Alex Verdugo feel about Jason’s entry?

After the game on Monday night, Verdugo was all in for Jason Dominguez, saying, “[Dominguez] is gonna come up here, he’s gonna play, he’s gonna help this team win.” They did just that by beating the Royals, so, is Jason Dominguez a lucky charm for the team? It’s hard to say, but there’s definitely something to the idea that tough competition brings out the best in players. Dominguez’s return seems to have sparked a new energy, and Verdugo’s performance last game might just be a sign of that.

The 52-year-old smashed a two-run homer to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning of their 10-4 win over the Royals. The timing was a bit ironic, especially since it was only his second at-bat since Dominguez rejoined the major league roster. While Verdugo was out in left field, Dominguez was in center on Monday. And there’s a good chance Dominguez might cut into Verdugo’s playing time more often, but it looks like the left fielder is okay with that.

And he simply puts it as, “If I lose a little bit of playing time, I lose a little bit of playing time. At the end of the day, I want to win. The only thing that matters is getting into the playoffs and winning there.” What sportsmanship, right? You must be wondering what the coming back of the 25-year-old means for Alex, and how can Boone possibly deal with this. Don’t worry, sports analyst Jack Curry has made some possible speculation!

What does Jack Curry feel about Aaron Boone’s next step?

According to Jack, Dominguez’s arrival has given Aaron Boone a lot of options. See, he gives this strategy that Dominguez excels offensively, so, Boone can use him to score runs early in the game. Then, he can bring in Verdugo later to solidify the defense and protect those leads. Now, Verdugo’s at-bats might reduce, but he still can contribute to the team. But will Boone use this strategy? It’s not sure yet as neither Boone nor Verdugo has said anything right now on this situation.

However, that doesn’t mean Boone was just expecting his veteran player to coast, though. Post-game, he said, “He’s been having better at-bats, I feel like over the last couple of weeks. Big homer there.” So, while he can use Jack’s strategy, we have to note one other thing too. Let’s not forget Nestor’s recent move to the bullpen, with Boone responding that he can’t make everyone happy; it’s clear he’s juggling a lot of decisions and moving the lineup as the playoffs approach. And on Monday’s game, the bullpen was slightly different.

Aaron Judge, who usually plays center field, was the designated hitter on Monday because Giancarlo Stanton, the usual DH, was on a night off. Boone’s pulling out all the stops to end the Yankees’ trophy drought. With the team leading on the charts, it’s looking promising, right? But there’s another big question: Verdugo is in the final year of his contract with the Yankees.

How do you think will this impact his future with the Yankees for the 2024 season and beyond? Drop your thoughts in the comments!