That object in the rearview mirror closer than it appears is Jasson Dominguez.
Fewer than five weeks after the Yankees said it would be “up to eight weeks” until the outfielder was playing in games again because of a “significant” oblique strain, Dominguez is headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and could return to action there “within the week,” according to manager Aaron Boone.
That suddenly makes him an intriguing option for the Yankees much sooner than expected, assuming he responds well when he continues his buildup this week at SWB before getting into games.
Jasson Dominguez could soon return to the Yankees.
“Whenever he starts playing [games], he’s available,” Boone said Tuesday before the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium. “He’s very close.”
Dominguez has not played in a game since June 15, when he strained his oblique on a check swing at Triple-A.
Five days later, Boone gave him an eight-week timeline.
But Dominguez has been ramping up at the club’s minor league complex in Tampa, including facing rehabbing reliever Nick Burdi in live batting practice on Monday.
Jasson Dominguez was originally on an eight-week return timeline.
And the Yankees are not putting any set number on how many games or at-bats the 21-year-old needs to take at Triple-A before they would potentially feel comfortable calling him up.
“When the need arises, he’s in play,” Boone said.
Some may argue there is already a need, even with Giancarlo Stanton on his way back on a similar timetable, though that could slightly complicate things.
If he had been healthy, Dominguez would have been the obvious replacement for Stanton when the slugger strained his hamstring on June 22.
Now, as Dominguez is close to becoming an option, Stanton is close to finishing off his own buildup, with a decision expected by this weekend on whether he needs a rehab assignment or not.
Jasson Dominguez will likely soon play for the the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.
But even if Stanton returns by next week to his regular spot at DH, the Yankees could also potentially find room for the switch-hitting Dominguez in the outfield if Alex Verdugo’s struggles continue.
The left-handed hitting Verdugo, whose addition has been well-received within the clubhouse (particularly by Aaron Judge, who had been pushing for the Yankees to acquire him even before this winter), entered Tuesday in the midst of a rough slump that has extended over a month.
Before playing left field and batting seventh against Mets lefty Jose Quintana, Verdugo was batting just .148 with a .418 OPS over his last 29 games.
The skid has tanked Verdugo’s overall numbers, batting just .229 with a .653 OPS and 0.4 fWAR through 98 games.
Alex Verdugo has struggled over the last month.
The pending free agent’s defense has mostly been strong in left field (aside from the costly misplay in Baltimore that allowed the Orioles to walk off the Yankees in the final game before the All-Star break), but his bat has been lacking.
Dominguez, meanwhile, provided an instant spark last September when the Yankees called him up, batting .258 with four home runs and a .980 OPS in eight games before suffering a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery.
After the elbow surgery delayed Dominguez’s start to this season, he spent 30 days on a rehab assignment before the Yankees optioned him to Triple-A on June 12 because he was blocked at the big-league level with their outfield and Stanton all healthy and producing.
Over a month later, that picture has changed, with the Yankees entering Tuesday in a 11-21 skid and Verdugo being one of a few struggling bats in the lineup.
The Yankees are expected to be in the market for a corner infielder and bullpen help ahead of next Tuesday’s trade deadline, but the return of a healthy Dominguez could offer an internal boost if the Yankees believe he is ready.
Before the oblique strain, Dominguez had a strong nine games at Triple-A, batting .389 with a 1.044 OPS.
