Recovering from Tommy John surgery typically requires months before an athlete returns to peak form, but Yankees star outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez is defying the odds, showing remarkable progress in just a few days.
At 21 years old, Dominguez is demonstrating that youth can be a significant advantage when recovering from severe injuries. Displaying his inherent power, Dominguez has already hit three home runs in just eight games for Double-A Somerset this season, a feat particularly notable as power usually takes the longest to return post-surgery.
Dominguez began his rehabilitation with Single-A Tampa, where he played four games and boasted a batting average of .385 and an on-base percentage of .529 over 17 plate appearances. His performance continued to impress at Somerset with a .333/.358/.606 slash line, including three home runs, seven RBIs, and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 167 over 34 plate appearances. His ability to produce elite numbers from both sides of the plate as a switch hitter has the Yankees optimistic about his future contributions.
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Path to the Yankees and Upcoming Challenges
Initially, if Dominguez had been healthy at the start of the season, the Yankees might not have needed to acquire Alex Verdugo to cover left field. However, despite Verdugo’s solid contributions, he is likely viewed as a temporary solution for this year, paving the way for Dominguez to potentially take over the left field position in 2025.
Alongside him in the pipeline is Spencer Jones, who is also progressing through Double-A, though he has faced challenges with a .220/.314/.327 batting line, three home runs, and 16 RBIs across 38 games.
While Jones continues to develop, Dominguez appears nearly ready for a major league debut, possibly sooner than later. With outfielder Trent Grisham struggling offensively this season, Dominguez could find an opportunity to join the Yankees later in the season to bolster their playoff run.
Despite the Yankees already having three established starters in the outfield, Dominguez’s transition to a full-time role is likely slated for the next season, setting the stage for what could be a significant impact on the team’s dynamics.