While the New York Yankees struggled on the field Wednesday night, falling 14-6 to the Texas Rangers, Jasson Dominguez made headlines in the minors with a two-run homer. Dominguez, known as “The Martian,” continued to build his case for a major league call-up by delivering another impressive performance, this time launching a deep drive over the left-field fence.
The Yankees’ struggles from August have carried over into September, with the team still searching for a rhythm amid a challenging stretch. Hours before their latest game, there was plenty of talk about possible changes to the bullpen strategy, with Austin Wells and Luis Gil set to start on Friday. Despite insider speculation, the public sentiment seemed focused on the urgency of bringing back Jasson Dominguez, especially after the Yankees’ 14-7 loss to the Rangers.
Domínguez’s two-run homer fuels calls for MLB promotion
At the same time the Yankees were playing in the majors, Jasson Dominguez was putting in another solid performance, delivering a two-run homer as “The Martian” continues to impress. In 2024, he has primarily played in the minors, where he has logged 210 at-bats, hitting 10 home runs with 32 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and a .310 batting average, while boasting an OPS of .870.
Frustration among Yankees fans peaked after Sunday’s 14-7 defeat to St. Louis, where manager Aaron Boone chose not to call up Domínguez. Fans have voiced their displeasure, comparing Domínguez’s minor league accomplishments to the lackluster performance of Alex Verdugo, whom the Yankees acquired to fill their left-field void but who has struggled to deliver. FanGraphs even noted that the Yankees’ decision not to promote Domínguez could be a hard pill for the fanbase to swallow.
Last September, Jasson Dominguez brought excitement to a team that was struggling to avoid its first losing season since 1992. He homered off Justin Verlander in his first plate appearance but was sidelined after just eight games with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, leading to Tommy John surgery. His absence early this season pushed the Yankees to trade for Verdugo, who has underwhelmed as an everyday player.
On Tuesday night in Arlington, the Yankees blew a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning, losing 7-4 when Clay Holmes, their closer, allowed a walk-off grand slam. This marked Holmes’ major league-leading 11th blown save and dropped the Yankees out of first place for the first time since August 20. Despite this setback, Boone has avoided acknowledging players’ struggles, often expressing optimism, a stance that some say is out of touch with reality.
Regarding Jasson Dominguez, Boone commented, “When he comes up here, you’re going to want to play him every day. He’ll continue to remain in that conversation. Over the last couple of weeks, he’s starting to play well from coming back from the oblique injury. Tough call right now. It doesn’t mean that it won’t change in a couple of days, a week, two weeks, whatever it is. But it’s important for him to continue to play right now.”
Boone’s cautious approach has fueled speculation about service time manipulation, with some wondering if the Yankees are delaying Jasson Dominguez’s promotion to maintain his rookie eligibility for 2025. MLB rules state that Domínguez will remain rookie-eligible if he finishes this season with fewer than 45 days on the active roster and fewer than 130 at-bats, leaving room for the Yankees to receive potential draft compensation if he wins Rookie of the Year in 2025.
The decision not to call up Jasson Dominguez has left many fans questioning the Yankees’ strategy as they navigate a tight playoff race. With the team’s inconsistent performance and Verdugo’s struggles, many see Dominguez as a potential spark the Yankees need to gain momentum in the final stretch.
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