David Bednar had earned a save in each of his five appearances this season prior to Wednesday’s loss, but the closer has struggled recently, with his fastball velocity down a bit.
Both Bednar and Aaron Boone said they are unconcerned about the dip with his four-seamer and his splitter, but the right-hander gave up a run for the third time in his last four outings in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the A’s.
“It’s early in the season and the weather [is cold],” Bednar said. “It’s nothing to panic about.”
Bednar could also be feeling the effects of recent consecutive appearances in which he combined to throw 73 pitches.
He struggled again against the A’s, as he allowed a pair of hits and the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.
In his last four games, Bednar has thrown 4 ¹/₃ innings and allowed eight hits, a walk and three runs, while striking out six.
“I got ahead of guys and couldn’t put them away,’’ Bednar said of his performance Wednesday. “That can’t happen in a game like that. I got in a jam, tried to get out of it and unfortunately wasn’t able to.”
In an interesting peek at what was and maybe what could be, Jasson Domínguez returned to center field Wednesday for the first time since 2024.
Domínguez — who had begun his professional career in center then was moved to left field, where he exclusively played in the majors last season and where he had begun this season — was the center fielder for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his eighth minor league game this year, going 0-for-5.
With Domínguez moving over, Spencer Jones received his first start in left field this season. Aaron Boone said the Yankees want to give the top prospects looks at different spots.
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“You never know when things pop up,” the manager said.
Injuries pop up and sometimes so does underperformance. The Yankees major league outfield is filled — with Cody Bellinger in left, Trent Grisham in center, Aaron Judge in right, Giancarlo Stanton at DH and Randal Grichuk as a righty bat off the bench — which has meant the Yankees have a star-studded prospect outfield at the top level of the minors.
With the outfield remaining healthy, neither Domínguez nor Jones had a real shot at cracking the Opening Day roster. Boone said he was happy with Domínguez’s spring at-bats, particularly a few later in the Grapefruit League as a righty, including launching a home run against Philadelphia lefty Tanner Banks. The switch-hitting Domínguez has struggled in the minors and majors from the right side.
“I know he’s had a homer and an extra-base hit from the right side down there,” Boone said. “I saw him make a really good play in left field the other day in their day game that I was watching. So off to a pretty good start.”
If Domínguez and Jones prove capable at both the corners and center field, the Yankees would be able to pick the better performer when they have a major league need. That need could arise out of injury or if, say, Grisham is not able to replicate his strong 2025 season.
Carlos Rodón was set to throw two simulated innings during a bullpen session. The lefty, whose progress from offseason elbow surgery was paused because of a tight hamstring last week, was able to throw through the setback.
Boone was not immediately sure of the next step for Rodón, who had been close to starting a rehab assignment before the hamstring issue.
“We want to make sure he’s in a good spot before he goes and does something live or in a game situation,” Boone said.
When the Yankees travel home from a series in Tampa this weekend, they expect Anthony Volpe to join them.
Volpe, who has been getting at-bats at the club’s spring facility, could start a rehab assignment next week, Boone said, “but we’ll see in the next few days.”
Honored as 2025 Silver Slugger Award winners before the game: Judge (outfield), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (second base) and the entire Yankees offense, which won the team award.
