Jasson Dominguez left Wednesday’s game against the Rangers after taking a pitch to the elbow in the fourth inning, and now the Yankees are waiting to see how serious it is.
The 23-year-old stayed in to run the bases but Max Schuemann took over in left field for the bottom half of the fourth. After New York’s 3-0 loss, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported that Dominguez has a left elbow contusion and will get a CT scan Thursday back in New York.
That’s a big deal considering Dominguez just got called up from Triple-A on Monday.
If he ends up on the injured list, the Yankees have some decisions to make. The name everyone’s talking about is Spencer Jones – fans have been waiting for his big league debut. But there’s a reason he’s still in the minors.
Jones has serious power, no question about it. The problem? He’s still figuring things out at the plate. This year at Triple-A, he’s struck out in nearly 37% of his plate appearances while hitting seven homers in 26 games. That’s the kind of strikeout rate that keeps prospects in the minors, even when they can turn on a fastball.
For now, the Yankees will likely stick with Schuemann coming off the bench for a few days. They’re also waiting for Anthony Volpe to return from his rehab assignment, which should give them more flexibility.
Randal Grichuk was designated for assignment recently, so he’s no longer an option for the roster.
Yankees fans obviously want to see Jones get his shot – he’s been one of their top prospects for a reason. But the front office isn’t going to rush a roster move until they know exactly what they’re dealing with regarding Dominguez’s elbow.
The CT scan results should give them a clearer picture of whether this is a day-to-day situation or something that requires a trip to the IL. From there, they’ll figure out the next step.
