Scary Jasson Dominguez Injury Gives Yankees Painful Reminder About Prospects
On May 4, the New York Yankees optioned Anthony Volpe to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre. Three days later, after Jasson Dominguez crashed into the Yankee Stadium wall making a catch against the Texas Rangers, the outfielder was revealed to be in concussion protocol.
Volpe and Dominguez are 25 and 23, respectively. Despite their ages, the pair were well-known among Yankees fans even before their MLB debuts.
More news:Devastating Injury to Astros is Validation for Giants, Mets
Dominguez was the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees’ organization as recently as 2025. In 2023, that title belonged to Volpe; Dominguez was No. 2.
To the reporters and evaluators who construct those lists, they are unscientific opinion polls. To fans, they are sometimes regarded as gospel.
But in order for Dominguez, Volpe, or any prospect to truly be the second coming of Babe Ruth, they must avoid the bad luck and growing pains that most baseball players encounter on the path to stardom.
Easier said than done.
More news:Mets Have MLB's Worst Record; Pitcher's ‘Suffocated' Comment Reveals Why
The 2025 season was Volpe’s third as the Yankees’ everyday shortstop. He was below average by any traditional offensive metric. Even from a process standpoint, Volpe struggled last year to be an average major league hitter. He ranked closer to the bottom than the top in hard-hit rate, swing-and-miss rate, and walk rate according to Statcast.
But Volpe was always known more for his range at shortstop than his potential as a slugger. When his defense suffered last season - he was well below average according to Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value - fans’ patience ran thin with the once-heralded prospect. Now he’s back in the minors.
More news: MLB's Best, Worst Teams at ABS Challenge System a Tough Call
Dominguez might well recover from the injuries he occurred in the Yankees’ victory over the Texas Rangers. Although he passed initial concussion tests, manager Aaron Boone told reporters he has a low-grade anterior capsule sprain in his left shoulder and will miss “a few weeks.”
Before the injury, Dominguez was less than one winabove replacement level in 157 major league games, slashing .245/.323/.396.
Dominguez and Volpe might well be cornerstones of the Yankees’ next championship team. For now, they wait.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 3:37 PM.