According to reports, the New York Yankees plan on promoting two of their top prospects on Friday. Outifelder Jasson Dominguez and catcher Austin Wells will join the team for their series against the Houston Astros as rosters expand for September. Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch broke the news for MLB.com.
Jasson Dominguez will be activated in Houston to make his MLB debut with the Yankees in the series against the Astros, a source told https://t.co/3tzkC7Z8N6.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 30, 2023
Both prospects are highly touted, especially Dominguez. Giving them major league reps in a lost season for the Yankees could salvage some momentum and hope heading into 2024.
Yankees Promoting Two of Their Top 10 Prospects
These call-ups continue an influx of youth for New York as the season winds down. Within the last two weeks, the team also promoted outfielder Everson Pereira for the first time and recalled infielder Oswald Peraza from the minors. Dominguez ranks as the Yankees’ #2 prospect (78th overall in MLB) while Wells ranks #8 in the Yankees system.
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Dominguez has attracted the eyes of scouts and fans alike for a few years now, already earning the nickname “The Martian” for his impressive power at the plate. He recently earned a promotion to Triple-A after spending most of the year with Double-A Somerset. For the season, he is hitting .266 with 15 home runs, 76 RBI, 39 stolen bases and a .801 OPS. While Dominguez has yet to homer in eight Triple-A games, he has driven in 10 runs and sports a gargantuan 1.124 OPS. The 5’9″ switch hitter shows more power from the left side, although he hits well from both sides. He also has a strong throwing arm, which could eventually facilitate a move from center field to a corner.
Wells is the Yankees’ top catching prospect. For the Bombers, he was a catcher so nice, they drafted him twice (35th round in 2018, 1st round in 2020). The 24-year-old stands at an even six feet and 220 lbs, and his lefty bat can hit for both contact and power. His defense leaves a bit to be desired, but his decent speed (by a catcher’s standards) helps make him a well-rounded offensive threat. Across three minor league levels this season, Wells is hitting .243 with 17 home runs, 72 RBI, and a .782 OPS.
Looking Toward the Future
Amid what has been a “disaster” season for the Yankees (per GM Brian Cashman himself), promoting two top prospects could provide a sense of renewal and hope for 2024. The September roster expansion is the perfect opportunity for New York to give its younger talent as much big-league experience as possible. This should help prepare them for what are hopefully long, successful careers. Expect to see Dominguez, Wells, Pereira, and Peraza in the lineup very often the rest of the way. Doing this should pay dividends for the Yankees in the future.
Photo Credit: Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
