Brian Cashman discusses Alex Verdugo, Jasson Domínguez

CHICAGO — The Yankees organization continues to believe that Alex Verdugo is their best choice in left field, which is why top prospect Jasson Domínguez has not been promoted, general manager Brian Cashman said on Friday at Wrigley Field.

“Jasson is doing everything he needs to do right now, and Verdugo is playing better baseball recently,” Cashman said. “The evaluations that we’re having with our field staff and player development staff and front-office staff is just, ‘What is going to give us the best chance to win?’

“As of right now, we’re staying with what we’ve got, but we’re always in the position to change our minds at some point, too.”

The decision not to add Domínguez, MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 prospect, has become a hot-button issue among fans clamoring to see “The Martian” in the big leagues.

Domínguez has been swinging the bat well with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, homering in three of his past five games entering play on Friday. Overall, Domínguez is hitting .282/.352/.443 (37-for-131) with four doubles, a triple, five homers and 21 RBIs in 33 games since returning from an oblique strain.

Verdugo has also been hitting consistently of late, with 14 hits in his past 41 at-bats (.341) and a .796 OPS over an 11-game span, though he has posted a .589 OPS since June 1. Verdugo, a potential free agent after this season, is hitting .235/.293/.359 (83 OPS+) in 134 games.

During the Yankees’ series against the Rangers in Texas, manager Aaron Boone defended Verdugo for not running hard on a groundout to second base, saying that the 28-year-old outfielder has been “beat up” and is “playing his [tail] off.”

“He’s played better,” Cashman said of Verdugo. “Obviously, there was a long stretch where he did not play as well as he’s capable of doing, but obviously more recently he’s been playing much better.”

There are underlying metrics that suggest Domínguez’s actual performance has exceeded his expected stats. According to Statcast, Domínguez’s average exit velocity in Triple-A has been 87.7 mph, with a hard-hit percentage of 38.1 percent and a 6.1 Barrel/BBE% (barrels per batted ball event).

By comparison, Verdugo has an average exit velo of 88.8 mph, with a hard-hit percentage of 36.1 percent and 5.7 barrels/BBE%.

Domínguez has played one game in the big leagues this year, as the 21-year-old switch-hitter was summoned for the Aug. 18 Little League Classic against the Tigers in Williamsport, Pa.

The Yankees did not promote Domínguez when rosters expanded to 28 players on Sept. 1; instead, their free position player slot was filled by Duke Ellis, a speedy outfielder claimed on waivers from the Mariners on Aug. 27.

Cashman said that the club does not intend to promote Domínguez unless they are ready to offer him regular playing time. With Verdugo, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in the outfield, and Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter, Cashman does not see that opportunity.

“If he comes, he’s got to play,” Cashman said. “He’s not going to come here and just sit. That’s why the pinch-runner [Ellis] is here currently, and whenever [Jon] Berti is coming … you start doing the chess board and see when Berti comes, whose spot is he going to take? So ultimately, if Domínguez comes, he’s got to play.”

Domínguez’s defense is part of the equation, Cashman acknowledged, though he added: “But I think Jasson is a good defender. I think Verdugo is a good defender. Verdugo is a left-handed bat; Jasson’s a switch-hitter but predominantly a left-handed bat, too.

“So ultimately those are the things we’re trying to work through. Right now, we’re staying on line.”

Domínguez can still be promoted at any time this month, and since he is on the 40-man roster, he would be eligible to participate in the postseason.

“It’s been part of the conversation quite often,” Cashman said. “It’s certainly stuff we’ve talked about and talked through, and we’ll continue to do so.”