Yankees Rookie's Purple Glove Was Golden Monday Night

While everyone in Yankee Stadium seemed to hold their breath, the 22-year-old raced back, tracked the ball to the warning track, and made a leaping, backhanded grab to snatch away an extra-base hit.

And he did it with an eye-catching lavender glove.

He turned around with a smile and held a finger to the tip of his cap, acknowledging the roar of the crowd.

What followed was just as revealing.

As Domínguez jogged back to the dugout, he was greeted by nearly every teammate on the bench. Manager Aaron Boone came down to find him, high-fived him, and told him how significant the moment was.

Domínguez struggled in left field last season to such an extent that the Yankees relied on the light-hitting Alex Verdugo for every playoff game. This spring, Domínguez put in the work, the results were slow to appear. He even had Bernie Williams on the field trying to help him.

Monday night marked an important step for Domínguez and the Yankees. After that first tremendous play, Dominguez made several put-outs on the night. 

Former Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill, working the game’s broadcast, pointed out that a play like that can help settle Domínguez into the big leagues.

“That first catch don't think it doesn't lead into the next ones” O’Neill said. "Confidence is everything......with that purple glove."

For a player whose bat has always outpaced his glove, this kind of play silences doubt outside and within his mind.