The Yankees have elevated outfielder Jasson Dominguez to the major league roster for Monday’s game against the Royals at Yankee Stadium, as announced by the team. To create space on the active roster, infielder DJ LeMahieu has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to right hip inflammation. Additionally, utility player Jon Berti has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list.
The team had already cleared a roster spot for Berti by optioning outfielder Duke Ellis to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. To accommodate Berti on the 40-man roster, left-hander Anthony Misiewicz has been designated for assignment.
Dominguez made a highly anticipated MLB debut last September, posting a .980 OPS and a 160 wRC+ in eight games as the Yankees’ center fielder before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL. Although he was reinstated from the injured list this June, he was sent to Triple-A rather than being added back to the major league roster due to New York’s crowded outfield. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were entrenched in center and right field, respectively, while Alex Verdugo was having a solid season in left field and Giancarlo Stanton was the daily DH. Thus, the Yankees opted to give Dominguez regular playing time with the RailRiders.
However, Verdugo has struggled significantly over the past three months, hitting .210 with a .568 OPS and a 62 wRC+. In contrast, Dominguez has excelled in Triple-A over the past month, batting .318 with an .893 OPS and a 132 wRC+ in his last 27 games, along with 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. He was briefly called up as the 27th man for a doubleheader last month but returned to the minors the next day. With the Yankees holding a slim half-game lead as the division leader, the decision to delay Dominguez’s call-up seemed odd, but it has now been resolved.
Dominguez’s promotion indicates he will see regular playing time, a point emphasized by GM Brian Cashman last week. He will start in center field and bat sixth tonight, with Judge serving as the DH and Stanton getting a rest against Royals right-hander Brady Singer. Verdugo, the only lefty batter in the lineup, will remain in left field. It’s likely Dominguez will eventually take some of Verdugo’s playing time, and he could also serve as a backup for Judge in center field, allowing Judge to DH more frequently and reduce his time on his feet.
Berti, acquired from the Marlins in the offseason, has spent most of the year on the injured list with a groin strain and later a calf strain. He has played only 17 games for the Yankees, mostly at third base, but is versatile enough to cover second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions if needed. While he is not starting tonight, he will offer valuable flexibility off the bench.
LeMahieu has been sidelined since last Tuesday. Manager Aaron Boone revealed that LeMahieu’s hip issue has persisted for weeks, and there is uncertainty about his return before the season ends. This isn’t a significant blow for the Yankees, as LeMahieu is hitting only .204 with a .527 OPS and a 51 wRC+ this season.
Misiewicz, 29, joined the Yankees as a waiver claim in July 2023 and re-signed on a minor league deal this offseason. His major league contract was selected in June, and he made one scoreless appearance before being sent back to Triple-A, where he has a 3.33 ERA in 54 innings this year.
Ellis, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Mariners at the end of August and promoted on September 1. He appeared in three games with one hit and one stolen base before being optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
