CLEVELAND — The Yankees have spent the past week absorbing the loss of Aaron Judge, and help may finally be on the horizon. Two bats capable of softening the blow are nearing the end of long injured list stays, and the timing could hardly be better for a lineup straining to stay afloat without its captain.
The Yankees injury picture is brighter than it was just days ago. Two returns appear close, and a third Yankees regular who had been a real worry just received encouraging news, giving manager Aaron Boone reason for cautious optimism across the board.
Stanton and Dominguez near the finish line
Here is the encouraging news for the Yankees. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and outfielder Jasson Dominguez both appear to be closing in on returns, and the team is hopeful both could be options as soon as next week.
Nothing is official yet, but the trajectory is promising. Stanton will keep hitting and running in New York this week after taking part in two live batting practice sessions last week. Boone offered a hopeful, if cautious, read on the slugger’s timeline when asked how close he is.
“I don’t know. Hopefully sometime next homestand, but we’ll see,” Boone said.
That homestand begins next Monday, when the Yankees return to the Bronx for a series against the White Sox and Reds. First, the team finishes its current trip to Cleveland and then visits Toronto this weekend. The timing lines up for Stanton to potentially rejoin the group once they are back home.
Dominguez works through his rehab
Dominguez is on a similar track, continuing his minor league rehab assignment this week with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The young switch-hitter has not produced at the plate yet, going 0-for-7 with three strikeouts across two games late last week, but the reps themselves are the priority for now.
Boone laid out the immediate plan for Dominguez and signaled the Yankees are taking it day by day.
“I think we’re planning on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we’ll continue to see where we’re at,” Boone said.
The Yankees have not committed to a fixed number of rehab games for Dominguez, preferring to let his progress dictate the pace. Boone made that flexibility clear with a short, telling answer about how many games the outfielder needs.
“No set amount,” Boone added.
Wells gets encouraging MRI news
The Yankees can breathe a small sigh of relief on catcher Austin Wells. After a tense wait, the news on him turned positive late Monday.
Wells landed on the injured list Saturday with cervical headaches, then underwent an MRI on Monday. Before the Yankees faced the Guardians, Boone had no fresh information to share but expected to be briefed soon.
“I’m sure I’ll get briefed by the end of the day,” Boone predicted.
Those answers arrived, and they brought relief. After the 10-inning win, Boone said the preliminary MRI results showed no cause for concern. For a team already thin behind the plate, ruling out anything serious was an important development.
“So far, so good,” Boone said. “I’m sure he’ll meet with the doctor again this week and then hopefully be able to start ramping up.”
That update shifted Wells from the most worrisome name on the list to one trending in the right direction. The Yankees have leaned on a patched-together catching group in his absence, so the prospect of him ramping back up soon is a welcome sign. A follow-up with the doctor this week should clarify his path back.
A lineup waiting on reinforcements
The broader stakes are obvious for the Yankees. Judge will be out at least four to six weeks with his rib stress fracture, and the lineup has felt the void. Getting Stanton and Dominguez back would not replace the reigning MVP, but it would give Boone far more flexibility and firepower than he has had in recent days.
The Yankees have managed to tread water in the meantime, and the prospect of adding two proven bats offers genuine hope. Stanton brings game-changing power, while Dominguez offers youth, speed, and switch-hitting balance. Both would deepen a lineup that has been asking role players to carry an outsized load.
For now, the Yankees wait, but with more optimism than they have carried in weeks. Two bats are close to returning, Wells has avoided a serious diagnosis, and the next week could reshape the roster as the team fights to stay in the race. If Stanton and Dominguez arrive on schedule and Wells continues to progress, the Yankees may soon look far healthier than they have all month.
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