Jasson Dominguez’s unexpected debut falls flat, plays a part in Yankees’ loss to Tigers

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For Sunday night’s MLB Little League World Series Classic, the Yankees and Tigers were allowed an extra roster spot, prompting Yankees manager Aaron Boone to call up Jasson Dominguez as the 27th man. The Martian was slotted into left field for the game at Bowman Field, which ended in a 3-2 loss to the Tigers in 10 innings. Following the debut, Dominguez was promptly sent back to Triple-A.

Batting fifth in the lineup, Dominguez’s performance fell short as he went hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times, including twice against lefty Tarik Skubal. His hesitation on a throw to home plate in the bottom of the 10th inning allowed the Tigers to seal their victory.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Dominguez expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating that each call-up is both a blessing and an honor. He added that he was happy to be part of the game and to contribute to the team.

“Every time I come up here, it’s a blessing,” the rookie said. “It’s an honor to be here. I’m happy to be here to play this game and happy to be in the lineup.”

Boone justifies unexpected Dominguez call up

It was Dominguez’s first appearance for the Yankees this year. His season had been hindered by setbacks, including Tommy John surgery in the fall and an oblique strain earlier this summer.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained the rationale behind adding Dominguez to the lineup, citing the scheduled day off on Monday and the challenge posed by Skubal on the mound. He saw it as an opportunity to introduce another right-handed bat, taking advantage of the 27th man provision for this particular game. As a result, left-handed outfielders Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham remained on the bench.

“With an off day [Monday], Skubal going, I just felt like getting another right-handed bat in there,” the Yankees manager argued. “Obviously having the luxury of having the 27th man for this game, felt like it made some sense.”

Despite fans’ hopes for Dominguez to stick around, especially given Verdugo’s prolonged slump, Boone made it clear that the rookie’s time with the team was intended to be brief. However, Boone acknowledged that Dominguez remains a viable option for future call-ups, noting that his batting has shown improvement in recent weeks, and expressing hope that this trend would continue, enhancing Dominguez’s chances for another shot with the team.

“He’s always an option,” he told after the game. “Feel like here over the last week or so, he’s started to swing the bat better and gotten it going again. So hopefully he can continue to build on that and continue to push himself into the conversation.”

Dominguez, a 21-year-old outfielder, made a memorable impression last September by hitting four home runs in just eight games. His promising run, however, was abruptly halted by a UCL tear, leading to Tommy John surgery that delayed his start to the 2024 season.

After completing his rehab, the Yankees opted to send Dominguez to Triple-A, where he continued to show promise. Just as he was on the cusp of a potential major league return, especially with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined due to injury, Dominguez faced another setback—a strained oblique.

Despite these obstacles, Dominguez excelled in Triple-A, posting a .280 batting average and a .766 OPS over 26 games.

When asked about the possibility of a permanent call-up to the majors, Dominguez smiled and acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation. He admitted that while he doesn’t know when the call might come, his focus remains on performing well and taking care of his current responsibilities. Dominguez stressed that decisions about his future are out of his hands, and he’s committed to playing the game to the best of his ability.

“I wish I had an answer for that question, but I really don’t,” he said. “That’s something I can’t control. It is what it is. I just focus on playing and doing my job. That part is not my job.”

Dominguez’s 2024 Yankees debut lacks 2023 magic

Since returning to Triple-A in late July after a six-week hiatus due to a left oblique strain, Yankees top prospect Jasson Dominguez has had a mixed performance, a far cry from his standout performance similar to his MLB debut last September, where he homered off Justin Verlander in Houston. Though his overall play has been less than stellar, “The Martian” has recently shown signs of improvement, leading to an unexpected opportunity.

Realistically, the only scenario that might have extended Dominguez’s MLB stay would have been an injury to a Yankees outfielder or designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton during the game.

Looking ahead, Dominguez is a strong candidate to be one of the two additional players the Yankees can bring up when rosters expand from 26 to 28 on September 1. It remains to be seen whether the 21-year-old switch-hitter will immediately take on the starting center field role, as he did last season when the Yankees faced a shortage of outfielders.

If Dominguez earns a regular starting spot with the Yankees this season without an injury paving the way, Alex Verdugo is likely to see his playing time reduced. In such a scenario, the Yankees’ outfield would probably feature Juan Soto in right field, Aaron Judge moving from center to left, and Dominguez taking over in center. This shift would push the slumping Verdugo from his current left field position to a role on the bench.

Dominguez’s season has been marked by challenges, having appeared in just 40 games. His start was delayed until May 14 as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery performed in October. A further setback came with an oblique injury that kept him sidelined from June 15 to July 26.

Despite these obstacles, Dominguez has put up respectable numbers, batting .298 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. However, his performance dipped after returning from the oblique injury, hitting only .219 with one home run and nine RBIs over 17 games. Encouragingly, he showed signs of turning things around last week, going 6-for-13 with a home run in his last four Triple-A games.

Reflecting on his season, Dominguez acknowledged its ups and downs, recognizing that baseball often brings fluctuations in performance. He maintained a resilient attitude towards injuries and challenges, underscoring the importance of perseverance. Dominguez expressed no frustration or impatience with his time in Triple-A, focusing instead on controlling what he can—playing and fulfilling his duties.

“A lot of up and down,” Dominguez said. “That’s baseball. Sometimes you get an injury. Sometimes you struggle at the game. But you always find a way. I haven’t thought about that because that’s a thing I can’t control. So it is what it is. I just focus on playing and doing my job. I’ve got to keep going and keep going.”

While acknowledging that his prior major league experience boosted his confidence, Dominguez emphasized the importance of forward momentum. He stressed that continuous improvement and progression are crucial as he looks ahead in his career.

Confident in his readiness for a full-time major league role, Dominguez pointed to his initial call-up last September as a key moment that solidified his belief in his abilities.

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