NEW YORK — The New York Yankees called up top prospect Jasson Domínguez on Monday ahead of their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals.
Domínguez will hit sixth in Monday’s lineup and play center field, with Aaron Judge slated in the designated hitter spot.
On Friday, general manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees likely wouldn’t call up Domínguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre if there wasn’t a place for him to play every day.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone echoed those sentiments Monday, noting that “Jasson is going to play a lot.”
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
•Recalled OF Jasson Domínguez (#89) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
•Returned INF Jon Berti (#19) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 60-day injured list.
•Placed INF DJ LeMahieu on…— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) September 9, 2024
“I’ve been a huge fan ever since I met him,” Boone said. “Just love his makeup, his talent, and he’s earned this opportunity.”
Domínguez told reporters that the Yankees informed him of his call-up Sunday night.
“This is a dream,” he said. “As soon as I started playing, I wanted to play in the big leagues. Now I’m here again, and I’m excited.”
Recently, the team seemed content with Alex Verdugo as their starting left fielder despite his offensive struggles.
The Yankees have been vocal in supporting Verdugo, who has hit better of late but has underperformed at the plate overall. The Yankees have also boasted about his defense and what he’s meant to the clubhouse chemistry. Verdugo will be a free agent after this season.
It’s doubtful that the Yankees have more faith in the bat of Verdugo (.651 OPS, 137 games in MLB) than in Domínguez’s (.848 OPS, 44 games at Triple A). The separators have likely been Verdugo’s defense and the fact he played 11 games in the playoffs in 2021, helping the Boston Red Sox to the American League Championship Series.
Domínguez, however, said that he feels comfortable playing in left field and that his arm has fully recovered since Tommy John surgery.
How will Domínguez work into the mix?
“We’re in the playoff push,” Boone said. “We’ll kind of mix and match it as best as I can.”
He added that he planned to have conversations with players whose playing time could be affected by the presence of Domínguez. They likely include Verdugo and backup outfielder Trent Grisham.
Domínguez electrified in his debut in September 2023, homering in his first MLB at-bat against Houston Astros ace and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. He homered four times in his first eight games before needing Tommy John surgery. The procedure kept him out of game action in the minors until mid-May. He also suffered an oblique strain that held him out for several weeks.
The Yankees called up Domínguez for a one-game cameo Aug. 18. In 2019, he received the biggest international signing bonus in franchise history at $5.1 million at age 16 out of the Dominican Republic.
The Yankees caught heat from fans and in the media when they didn’t promote Domínguez when rosters expanded on Sept. 1.
The Yankees, who optioned outfielder Duke Ellis back to Triple A following Sunday’s game, also placed DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day injured list Monday with a hip impingement and activated infielder Jon Berti from the 60-day IL in an expected move.
Boone said that LeMahieu had been feeling pain in his hip on and off for several weeks. Boone said the veteran was scheduled for an MRI on Monday and didn’t know whether LeMahieu would play again this season. LeMahieu had likely already played himself off the playoff roster, hitting just .204 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 67 games. The Yankees owe him $30 million through the 2026 season and he may be a long-shot candidate to be cut in the offseason.
Boone said the Yankees feel like they “have a chance to do something really special” with their new-look roster.
“Feel like we got a little bit better today with Berti coming up and Jasson coming in and hopefully, in their own way, they can impact us and help us win games,” he said.
(Top photo of Jasson Domínguez in 2023: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
