JASSON DOMINGUEZ IS READY FOR REHAB & TO FIGHT FOR A BIG LEAGUE SPOT!

I have been anxiously waiting for Jasson Dominguez to get back into action. I was pretty crushed when we lost him last September. It feels like an eternity has passed, but he is finally ready to start rehab. As long as it has felt for me, it must've been infinitely longer for him.

On Tuesday or Wednesday, Dominguez starts his journey back to playing in meaningful games again. The real question will be, will those meaningful games be in the majors back at Yankee stadium again or down in the minors? The Yankees may have a tough decision to make if he completes his rehab with no setbacks.

According to Aaron Boone, Dominguez will start in a DH role only for the first two weeks and if all goes well, start to transition to some field time. You can read more HERE. Once rehab starts, so does a 20-day clock and once the clock expires the Yankees will have to decide if they are adding him to the major league roster or optioning him to the minors.

That 20-day clock sounds scary, but a lot can happen by then. For years, this team has been ravaged by injuries so a lot can change quickly. Currently, the Yankees are set with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo in the outfield. The Yankees also have Trent Grisham on the bench, who hasn't played much thanks to his abysmal .69 BA. Right now, there is no natural place for Dominguez and I say natural because I wouldn't want to just call him up to sit him on the bench. He had a quick promotion to the majors last season after playing in nine Triple-A games, he needs to play every day.

But again, anything can happen in almost three weeks. We could see Giancarlo Stanton come down with some sort of injury or anyone else really. That could change the landscape of the roster giving Dominguez an opportunity. Honestly though, I'd like to see this team stay healthy and if I am being completely honest, I want to keep Verdugo's bat in this lineup.

So I'm excited that our Martian is almost back. I haven't been this excited about one of our young guys in a long time. I really think he will be a difference maker for us in the future. That being said, my gut tells me if the Yankees have no injuries, they will assign him down in the minors if he finishes his rehab with no issues....and I am okay with that. He needs to play every day and even if he doesn't get on a big-league roster now, it's coming. We saw what happened last season, so he will get his opportunity.

If we don't see him in a Major League stadium here soon, it will be because we are healthy and that will be a welcome change. We don't need to rush him right now. They say good things come to those who wait so for once, I am okay with being patient, for now.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj