Jasson Domínguez’s injury update left the New York Yankees awaiting answers Wednesday after the outfielder exited a 3-0 loss to the Texas Rangers with a left elbow issue after being hit by a pitch. Initial X-rays were inconclusive, according to The Athletic reporter Chris Kirschner, with additional imaging scheduled when the Yankees return to New York on Friday.
The timing could not be worse. Domínguez had been recalled from Triple-A just three days earlier and appeared headed for a legitimate extended audition in the big leagues. Now, his status is unclear.
Domínguez Injury Update: What the Yankees Said
The pitch that ended Domínguez’s afternoon was an 89.1 mph cutter from Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi that caught him near the left elbow in the top of the fourth inning. Domínguez remained in briefly to run the bases, but the Yankees removed him before the bottom half of the inning, according to MLB.com‘s Bryan Hoch.
The club announced a left elbow contusion as the official diagnosis, with X-rays taken at the ballpark in Arlington. Further imaging will be conducted back in New York before a clearer picture of his availability emerges.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters the X-rays on Domínguez were inconclusive and that he was in visible pain when he left the game, according to Kirschner.
Max Schuemann replaced Domínguez in left field, making his Yankees debut after being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Yankees Had Major Plans for Domínguez
Domínguez’s call-up Sunday came directly after Giancarlo Stanton’s right calf strain, which landed the veteran slugger on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. The Yankees had mapped out a legitimate role for the 22-year-old outfielder as a designated hitter against right-handed pitching while Stanton remains sidelined.
Earlier Wednesday, the Yankees made a roster move that signaled genuine organizational commitment to Domínguez’s stay. The club designated veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment, according to the New York Post, clearing a path for Domínguez to remain on the roster even when shortstop Anthony Volpe returns from the injured list, possibly as soon as this weekend.
Grichuk had been hitting .194 with a .535 OPS across 16 games after making the team on a minor league deal out of spring training. His removal gave the Yankees roster flexibility to send Schuemann back to Triple-A once Volpe is activated, keeping Domínguez in the majors.
Before his promotion, Domínguez was slashing .326 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In two games since joining the big league club, he was 1-for-8 while starting at designated hitter, per MLB.com.
Domínguez Injury Adds to Yankees Roster Uncertainty
The afternoon was rough for New York across the board. Eovaldi, who entered the day carrying a 5.79 ERA and coming off one of the worst outings of his Rangers tenure, looked entirely different against the Yankees, throwing seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and 20 swings and misses, according to MLB.com‘s Kennedi Landry.
A two-run single from Josh Jung provided all the offense Texas needed. The Yankees were shut out and dropped the series finale.
With Stanton sidelined, Volpe not yet back, and now Domínguez’s elbow status uncertain, New York heads home carrying more roster questions than it did 24 hours earlier. The results of the additional imaging could determine whether the Yankees’ outfield depth issue just became significantly more complicated.
Jasson Dominguez Injury Update: Yankees DH Gets X-Ray Results After HBP