The New York Yankees have called up their top prospect, Jasson Domínguez, just before Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals, addressing the speculation that surrounded the team since the start of roster expansions earlier this month. At 21 years old, Domínguez made his debut in the Yankees’ starting lineup on Monday, playing center field and batting sixth. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Domínguez will see significant playing time as the Yankees vie for the AL East title against the Baltimore Orioles.
“This is a dream,” Domínguez expressed. “Since I began playing, I wanted to be in the big leagues, and now that I’m here again, it’s exciting and I’m happy about it.”
The decision not to promote Domínguez on September 1, when teams could first expand to 28-player rosters, surprised many. Fans reacted strongly, especially since Domínguez was performing well at Triple-A while Alex Verdugo, the Yankees’ regular left fielder, struggled significantly since June. The question remained: why the delay?
Boone cited two main reasons: injuries hampered Domínguez’s season after he started late due to Tommy John surgery last September and later dealt with an oblique strain. Additionally, Boone explained that Domínguez would only be called up to play every day, and the decision-makers wanted to give the veteran Verdugo, who has playoff experience, more chances to improve his performance.
On Friday, general manager Brian Cashman noted Verdugo provided “the best chance to win.”
However, after taking two out of three games against the Cubs with only six runs scored, the Yankees returned home with Domínguez now in the clubhouse and Verdugo effectively benched. What prompted this shift?
“There’s no single change, but the roster is always evolving,” Boone remarked. “As I said on September 1, when we didn’t initially call up Jasson, he was in the conversation every day. It’s about maintaining the momentum he built in recent weeks.”
Domínguez’s return comes a year after he electrified fans during a September call-up in a disappointing 82-win season, where he homered in his debut and hit three more home runs in his first seven games. Unfortunately, his season ended early due to a torn UCL in his right elbow, leading to Tommy John surgery and delaying his 2024 return until mid-May.
After reaching Triple-A Wilkes/Barre in June, he played nine games before suffering an oblique strain that kept him out for over a month. His only major league appearance before Monday was in the Little League Classic against the Tigers, where he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Back in the minors, he thrived, hitting .347 with four home runs and a .958 OPS in just 18 games. For the season, he posted a .314/.376/.504 slash line with 11 home runs across three minor league levels, establishing himself as a consensus top-10 prospect and a pivotal part of the Yankees’ future.
“I’ve been a huge fan ever since I met him,” Boone remarked. “I love his character and his talent. He has earned this opportunity.”
Additionally, the Yankees activated infielder Jon Berti from the injured list and placed infielder DJ LeMahieu on the injured list due to a right hip impingement. Berti, a speedster acquired before Opening Day, had been sidelined since May with a left calf strain. Boone mentioned that LeMahieu had been experiencing hip discomfort for “a few weeks” and wasn’t sure if the two-time batting champion would play again in 2024, as this season has been his worst.
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