ARLINGTON, Texas — Jasson Domínguez is back in a Lamborghini after crushing it in a Corolla.
And while the luxury car may just be a rental, Domínguez is looking to make the most of it.
The 23-year-old outfielder — who, upon being optioned to Triple-A on the penultimate day of spring training, compared going back to the minors after spending last year in the majors like driving a Corolla after being in a Lamborghini — was called up to join the Yankees on Monday as they continued to delay a decision on whether Giancarlo Stanton needs a stint on the injured list.
Even if Stanton goes on the 10-day IL — he finally got an MRI on Monday and the team was awaiting the results before first pitch — the Yankees might need to open a roster spot as soon as Friday if Anthony Volpe is ready to return from the IL.
In the interim, they were able to make room for Domínguez by sending Luis Gil to Triple-A and playing a pitcher short.
At least for this series against the Rangers, though, with the Yankees set to face a trio of right-handers, Domínguez will have a chance to prove he belongs again.
“Down there in Triple-A, that’s what you work for,” Domínguez said Monday at Globe Life Field before DHing and batting sixth. “You want to get back to the majors. Now that I’m here, trying to enjoy my time and help the team.”
Domínguez helped the Yankees for much of last season, but by the second half was squeezed out of playing time by Trent Grisham’s breakout season, combined with being a liability defensively in left field and struggling from the right side of the plate as a switch-hitter.
After Grisham returned this offseason on the qualifying offer and the club re-signed Cody Bellinger, that left no room for Domínguez on the big league roster, at least not in an everyday role.
But the former ballyhooed prospect has taken the situation in stride and gone about his work at Triple-A.
In 24 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he hit .326 with a .893 OPS, three home runs and eight steals.
Even more encouraging was his performance — albeit in a limited sample size — from the right side of the plate against lefties, hitting .389 (7-for-18) with a 1.172 OPS.
“Phenomenal,” manager Aaron Boone said of how Domínguez has handled it all. “He deserves a lot of credit. I think one thing the last four months has revealed is Jasson Domínguez’s character. Because when we did some of the things we did this winter, there was all the talk and writing on the wall maybe that he was going to potentially start in Triple-A. All he did was come and work. Showed up early to spring training ready to go, had a good spring and then has gone down to Triple-A.
“As a young player, when you’ve been here and had some success at the big league level and you got to go back, a lot of times you see guys struggle and not do well or pout a little bit. He hasn’t done any of that. He’s worked hard, he’s performing and he deserves to be here right now.”
Domínguez’s success against left-handers is important because it would make him more viable on the big league roster.
The Yankees already have enough left-handed hitting outfielders, but if Domínguez proves his gains from the right side are real, he could potentially vie for a role as a fourth outfielder — the job Randal Grichuk occupies.
For now, Boone indicated that Domínguez could get a start in left field during this series to allow Aaron Judge to DH for a game.
The manager said Domínguez has been “OK” defensively at Triple-A, and while that remains a work in progress, his bat has been much more consistent.
“There’s very good reasons on the team for me to go to Triple-A. I understand it,” Domínguez said. “It’s been good. Trying to get better at the things I have to get better [at].”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
