TAMPA – Less than a week after his 21st birthday, Jazon Dominguez started a pitching program last Monday and plans to start swinging next week.
And while he’s itching to return to the Yankees “as soon as possible” after Tommy John surgery, that won’t happen until he checks all the boxes in the rehab process.
“I just [being] I’m patient,” Dominguez said Tuesday morning at Steinbrenner Field. “I’m not in a hurry to do anything. But I’d certainly like to go back.”
The Yankees expect Dominguez to return in the summer after undergoing elbow surgery in September, but it remains to be seen whether that means an immediate trip to the Bronx or further seasoning in Triple-A. do not have.
That may depend on the health and performance of starting outfielders Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, as well as DH Giancarlo Stanton.
But Dominguez teased his chances last September, before his UCL tear was revealed.
The center fielder hit a home run in his first career at-bat against Justin Verlander and has four home runs in eight games with a .980 OPS.
“I know I can play here, but I also know I have a lot of work to do,” Dominguez said. “I have a lot to learn. I definitely got off to a great start, but I know in my head that I have a lot to learn.”
For now, Dominguez is throwing 60 feet and continuing his daily rehabilitation step by step while the rest of the clubhouse begins preparing for the season.
But in the meantime, he is looking forward to being with new teammate Juan Soto.
“It’s going to be great,” Dominguez said. “If I can be around him and learn from him, it will be good for me.”
