Yankees' Top Prospect Suffers Yet Another Injury
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 18: Juan Soto (L) #22 and Jasson Domínguez #89 of the New York Yankees smile during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 18, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. Dominguez will be out for the next two months due to another injury.
From Sept. 1-9, 2023, it looked like the New York Yankees had their next superstar outfielder.
Unfortunately, that's just about all they've gotten to see.
More news: Yankees Announce Massive Roster Move as 3 Key Players Head to Injured List
Jasson Domínguez, the Yankees' No. 1 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has been hit with the injury bug early and often in his career. After spending less than 10 days at the MLB level last year, Domínguez suffered a torn UCL. He underwent Tommy John surgery, and missed the rest of the season.
Domínguez was able to start a rehab assignment in the middle of May, and again showed his dominance as a hitter. Following his rehab assignment, however, he was optioned to Triple-A due to the logjam of outfielders on the Yankees' MLB roster.
Still in Triple-A, the injury bug has struck Dominguez yet again.
On Saturday, Domínguez felt a tweak near his left oblique on a check swing. On Sunday, he was placed on the 7-day minor league injured list. Unfortunately, he's going to be out a lot longer than a week.
On Thursday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Domínguez would miss about eight weeks due to a left oblique strain. That will keep him out until late August.
This is a tough blow for Domínguez, who has done nothing but rake since being signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. In eight games at the MLB level last year, Dominguez (nicknamed "The Martian") slashed .258/.303/.677 with four home runs, seven runs batted in, and an OPS of .980.
In nine games at Triple-A this year, Dominguez was slashing .389/.405/.639 with an OPS of 1.044. In 23 total minor league games this year, he had six home runs and a 1.014 OPS.
More news: Yankees Lose Another Top Prospect to Tommy John Surgery
Domínguez will now go right back on the injured list, where he's spent much of the last year. The 21-year-old has seemingly untapped potential — especially as a slugger — but he's been unable to stay healthy since rising the minor league ranks.
The Yankees will hope Domínguez is able to return to Triple-A by late August, and then potentially be a September call-up. But for now, they'll continue to have to wait on their budding superstar. Fortunately, their outfield of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Alex Verdugo has stayed healthy and afforded them that luxury.
Start your unlimited Newsweek trial