What should have been a triumphant 7-3 victory over Los Angeles quickly turned worrisome for the New York Yankees. Two critical players — outfielder Jasson Domínguez and closer Luke Weaver — suffered injuries during Sunday’s win, casting shadows over the team’s successful West Coast swing.
Domínguez sustained a left thumb contusion during a fifth-inning stolen base attempt. Weaver experienced hamstring discomfort just before his scheduled ninth-inning appearance for the Yankees. Both players will receive medical evaluations in New York during Monday’s scheduled off-day.
The injuries threaten to disrupt momentum as the Yankees enter a pivotal phase of their 2025 campaign.
Dominguez injury: Minor bruise or bigger jolt?
The promising Yankees young outfielder was contributing effectively before the mishap, recording one hit, one walk, and one RBI in two plate appearances. His successful steal of second base with Anthony Volpe batting resulted in jamming his exposed left thumb against the bag. Though he remained in the game initially, Cody Bellinger replaced him when his next at-bat arrived.
“I don’t think there’s much concern about it. We’re going to see [Monday] how it goes. Right now, I think there is nothing to worry about. … Right now, I’m feeling better already,” Domínguez said after the Yankees win.
The organization plans to exercise caution given Domínguez’s injury history and his apparent difficulty gripping a bat following the incident. While he currently uses protective equipment on his right hand, the Yankees rookie acknowledged considering similar protection for his left. “Definitely now, yes,” he responded when asked about wearing gear on both hands moving forward.
Domínguez enters the evaluation carrying a .247/.312/.454 slash line with six homers and 25 RBIs through 49 contests. His platoon splits reveal significant variance — a .854 OPS batting left-handed versus .573 from the right side. Any prolonged absence would challenge the Yankees’ depth and increase manager Aaron Boone’s reliance on Bellinger, who has surged recently with a .315 average and .939 OPS across his previous 23 games.
Weaver exit: A bigger blow to the bullpen?
While Domínguez’s departure raised eyebrows, Luke Weaver‘s sudden unavailability could prove more damaging to the Yankees’ late-inning stability. Boone intended to deploy Weaver in the ninth despite holding a comfortable four-run advantage, but hamstring tightness forced an immediate adjustment.
“He felt something when he had finished warming up, and then when he went to stretch, he felt something in the middle of his hammy,” the Yankees manager explained. “So we had to make a switch on the fly there. We’re hoping it’s not too serious.”
Weaver avoided postgame media availability while receiving immediate hamstring treatment. The severity of his condition remains undetermined.
Since assuming Yankees closing duties from Devin Williams in April, Weaver has dominated with a 1.05 ERA across 24 appearances while converting eight saves. His precision, composure, and contact-management skills have proven essential for securing late leads.
Concerns amplify when considering Williams’ save situation struggles this season. The highly anticipated offseason acquisition owns an 8.10 ERA in those circumstances. Should Weaver require time away, Boone might depend on Jonathan Loaisiga or Mark Leiter Jr. — neither of whom has established consistent ninth-inning credentials.
“We had to go to Tim Hill on the fly, and he did a great job,” Boone noted, referencing the left-hander who secured the final inning cleanly. However, losing Weaver temporarily could destabilize the Yankees’ bullpen, which has quietly become a strength during the competitive AL East race.
Yankees reinforcements on the way
New York does possess encouraging injury news elsewhere. Jazz Chisholm Jr., sidelined one month with an oblique strain, completed what appears to be his final rehabilitation game Sunday at Double-A Somerset. His activation by the Yankees on Tuesday seems likely, with third base as his probable destination.
Boone also announced reliever Fernando Cruz’s impending return from shoulder inflammation this week. Jake Cousins, who missed spring training with an elbow flexor strain before suffering a May pectoral injury, will soon begin his rehabilitation assignment. Cousins may require a complete 30-day rehab period before rejoining the Yankees’ bullpen.
Takeaways: A win with caveats
The Yankees concluded their road trip 6-3, salvaging the Dodgers series through an emphatic victory featuring DJ LeMahieu’s four-hit explosion and Ryan Yarbrough’s mound mastery. However, attention quickly shifted to medical concerns.
Both Domínguez and Weaver have contributed significantly to New York’s impressive 36-22 record. Domínguez has established himself as a regular outfield option with excellent defensive range and consistent offensive output. Weaver has stabilized a bullpen forced into early-season adjustments.
The Yankees medical staff faces a busy Monday. Evaluation results will influence roster decisions for the upcoming homestand and potentially alter trade deadline approaches if depth becomes further compromised.
Boone expressed measured hope: “Hoping it’s not too serious, but he felt it when it was stretching.” That sentiment applies to both situations. The Yankees must now determine whether Sunday’s victory extracted too steep a price.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
