Houston, you might have a problem, because a Martian is incoming!
According to multiple reports, including Jack Curry of the YES Network, the Yankees will call up outfielder Jasson Dominguez and catcher Austin Wells when rosters expand Friday, the same day the Yankees begin a three-game set with the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Dominguez, the No. 2 prospect in the organization and No. 78 overall according to MLB.com, was just promoted to Triple-A last week, but has been on a tear at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .419 with three doubles, a triple, six walks, and 10 RBI in nine games.
The 20-year-old had a slow start at Double-A Somerset this year, but finished his time there with a .254/.367/.414 slash line with 15 homers, 66 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 109 games before being promoted on August 22.
Signed to a $5.1 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Dominguez was nicknamed “The Martian,” and turned heads in spring training with four homers in 11 games – leading manager Aaron Boone to remark that the youngster, who just reached Double-A at the end of 2022, could impact the MLB club this season.
That now appears to be true as it does for 2020 first-round pick Wells, the Yankees’ No. 8 prospect, who has spent time at High-A Hudson Valley, Double-A, and Triple-A this year, and totaled a 240/.333/.442 slash line with 17 home runs and 72 RBI. The 24-year-old was slated to get some work at first base at some point in the minors, which could now come at the MLB level, even as the Yankees continue to push his future behind the plate despite his defense being a work in progress.
The additions continue the youth movement the Yankees have been pushing since falling further back out of contention after the trade deadline, one that took on further cadence when the team called up Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira last week and then released Josh Donaldson Tuesday.
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It could also mean a first in more than a half-century: if all four of Pereira, Peraza, Dominguez, and Anthony Volpe start in the same game in September, it would mark the first time since Sept. 18, 1969, that the Yankees had four players age 23 or younger in the same lineup.
The Yankees have two open spots on their 40-man roster after designating Greg Allen for assignment when Pereira was called up and then releasing RHP Spencer Howard on Wednesday - and as both players would be Rule 5 Draft eligible this winter, this would give them a head start. However, they cannot add both players without a position player move on the 28-man roster, as MLB rules state that when rosters on Sept. 1, teams can only call up one pitcher and one position player.
That may take care of itself, however, as the team put Harrison Bader on irrevocable waivers Tuesday, and if any team claimed him, that claim will be awarded in reverse order of standings as of Thursday – meaning Bader would go to the worst team that claimed him and they would assume his deal.
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