The New York Yankees are shaking things up as they prepare for a critical three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Bombers are dealing with a challenging roster shuffle, aimed at bolstering their versatility and injecting youth into the lineup.
Infielder DJ LeMahieu has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a lingering right hip impingement. The injury has been bothering LeMahieu for several weeks, prompting him to undergo treatment in hopes of improvement. "It's been something that's been kind of lingering on him the last couple of weeks. He's been getting treatment on it. It's kind of better some days, worse the others," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
LeMahieu's absence further impacts a team already struggling with consistency. This season, LeMahieu has hit .204 with two homers and 26 RBIs over 67 games. His contribution has been hampered since he missed the first 55 games due to a fracture in his right foot. Last season, he managed a .243 average with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 136 games, demonstrating his importance to the Yankees' lineup when healthy.
Domínguez Gets the Call
Amidst these challenges, the Yankees have called up their top prospect, Jasson Domínguez, from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 20-year-old outfielder has been making waves in the minors, batting .314 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 58 games across various minor league levels this season. His performance has been particularly impressive since returning from an oblique injury on June 15. Since rejoining, Domínguez has hit .309 with seven homers and 25 RBIs.
Boone is certainly excited about the young outfielder's potential. "I think you know my thoughts on him. I've been a huge fan ever since I met him. Just love his makeup, his talent and he's earned this opportunity," Boone remarked. Domínguez is set to make his major league debut in center field, batting sixth, with additional playing time in left field also on the horizon.
Misiewicz Designated for Assignment
In another roster move, the Yankees have designated reliever Anthony Misiewicz for assignment. Misiewicz has had a limited stint with the team, appearing in just one game for New York this season. In Triple-A, however, he has had a noteworthy record, posting a 3-2 mark with a 3.33 ERA in 44 appearances. The Yankees' decision to designate Misiewicz creates space on the roster for the newly activated Jon Berti.
Berti Activated
Berti returns after missing 90 games due to a left calf strain. Before his injury, Berti was acquired in a spring training trade with the Miami Marlins. He had shown promise, hitting .273 with one homer and six RBIs in 17 games. Unfortunately, his season took an abrupt pause when he collapsed in pain just a few steps out of the batter's box in San Diego on May 24.
As the Yankees gear up for this crucial series, the roster changes reflect a blend of necessity and optimism. Boone's decisions highlight the balance between addressing ongoing injuries and integrating new talent to rejuvenate the lineup. With LeMahieu's temporary absence and Domínguez's major league debut, fans are set to witness how these changes will shape the team's dynamics moving forward.
Boone's words echo the cautious optimism surrounding Domínguez: "Like I said on Sept. 1 when we didn't initially recall Jasson, he's in the conversation every single day. I think as much as anything, it's just continuing to build the momentum he's built here over the last few weeks, where we feel like, especially the last couple of weeks, really starting to be in the peak of the season and play at a high level."
The Yankees' roster movements are indicative of a team striving to find the right mix to make a crucial end-of-season push. With hopes resting on both the recovery of seasoned players and the promise of new talent, the upcoming games will be a testament to the resilience and strategic decisions made by the team’s management.