In his eighth rehab game, Jasson Dominguez went on the showcase of his Martian trait he was known for. The Yankees’ No. 1 prospect blasted his first home run of 2024 in an immaculate display of his power for Double-A Somerset on Saturday night.
MLB’s No. 31 overall prospect crushed a two-run shot over the fence against New Hampshire’s Trent Clifton in the Patriots’ 5-3 victory over the Fisher Cats. Jasson Dominguez collected three hits, improving his rehab slash line to .323/.417/.452 with a .862 OPS.
The 21-year-old Dominican center fielder hadn’t gone deep since Sept. 8, 2023, the day before his final MLB appearance last season due to an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery. His rehab assignment began with four games in Tampa before making a transition to Somerset.
Despite his first major league stint lasting only eight games, Jasson Dominguez made a strong impression by homering in his debut at-bat. He proceeded to hit three more homers, two off Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier, before the injury setback.
He has recorded a hit in all but three rehab games so far, with four multi-hit contests. After a scorching start in the majors, the Yankees are optimistic their top prospect can regain that form as his rehab progresses.
The home run was a promising sign for Jasson Dominguez as he nears a potential return to the Bronx after an abbreviated rookie campaign.
Yankees need Jasson Dominguez’s power
While Jasson Domínguez’s first MLB stint was brief, the Yankees have long seen him as a future star since signing the prized international prospect for $5.1 million in 2019. However, his landing spot upon completing this rehab assignment remains uncertain.
The 21-year-old outfielder, nicknamed “The Martian,” was viewed as a cornerstone to build around in the Bronx. But with the Yankees leading the AL East and sporting a scorching 17-4 record in May, their current outfield of Alex Verdugo, Aaron Judge, and Juan Soto has fueled the success.
It’s unlikely Jasson Dominguez instantly returns to the majors when ready, but his strong rehab start is complicating that decision for the Bronx Bombers. Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged earlier this month that while he’s long been high on Domínguez’s talent and believes he’ll have a really good MLB career, every player’s trajectory differs in terms of when they’ll truly “pop.”
Boone expressed confidence in Jasson Dominguez’s person and ability but said the timing of his potential impact remains to be seen. The manager recounted feeling last spring that the outfielder was already a big leaguer.
Jasson Dominguez’s rehab has progressed positively so far between stops in Tampa and Double-A Somerset. But with the major league outfield thriving, the Yankees face a difficult choice on when to reintegrate their top prospect.
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