-
Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer
With the New York Yankees now focused on seasons beyond the disaster of 2023, they have informed top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez that he will be activated on Friday, sources confirmed, in time for the team’s series against the Houston Astros, which includes an appearance on Sunday Night Baseball this weekend.
Dominguez, 20, will be joined on the big league roster by 24-year-old catching prospect Austin Wells, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The moves were first reported by MLB.com.
Dominguez is 20 years old and a switch-hitting center fielder, someone the Yankees pursued as an amateur because of his unusual combination of power and speed. The Yankees signed Dominguez for a $5.1 million bonus in 2019, and he has steadily moved through the organization’s farm system, generating mostly middling results against older competition. But after a late-season promotion to Triple-A this summer, he thrived in an eight-game sample, hitting .444 with five walks and two strikeouts, clinching his ascent to the majors. Overall, Dominguez has an .801 OPS in 117 games in Double-A and Triple-A combined, including 15 homers and 39 stolen bases (in 47 attempts).
The Yankees are in the midst of what could become their first losing season in more than 30 years, and in recent days, they have summoned some of their best prospects to the majors to play in the final weeks of the regular season. Dominguez figures to get time in center field, following the Yankees’ decision to place veteran outfielder Harrison Bader on waivers; it’s expected that Bader will be claimed by a contending team on Thursday.
Wells, a first-round draft pick in 2020, has cruised through the minors this season, beginning the year with Class-A Tampa of the Florida State League before moving to Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The left-handed-hitting Wells had a .240 batting average with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs in a total of 96 games between all three levels, although he spent most of his time (58 games) at Somerset along with Dominguez.
The two prospects will join a big league roster that already includes shortstop Anthony Volpe (22), infielder Oswald Peraza (23) and outfielder Everson Pereira (22).
New York also released 27-year-old right-hander Spencer Howard on Wednesday.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
Source: www.espn.com