The Yankees brought up an outfielder from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, but it wasn’t Jasson Dominguez.
The team’s top prospect remained in the minors when rosters expanded to 28 prior to the Yankees series finale against the Cardinals in The Bronx.
Instead, the team recalled Duke Ellis, a 26-year-old speedster they claimed off waivers from the Mariners last week.
Dominguez stays at Triple-A during a season that was delayed by his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He also suffered an oblique strain that kept him out of action for more than a month.
Manager Aaron Boone reiterated Sunday Dominguez was “certainly in the conversation” to be called up.
“He will remain in the conversation moving forward,’’ Boone said. “When he comes up here, we’re gonna want to play him every day, so he’ll continue to remain in the conversation. We feel like the past couple weeks, he’s starting to play well, coming back from the oblique injury. It was a tough call right now, but that doesn’t mean that doesn’t change in a couple days [or] two weeks, but it’s important for him to continue to play right now.”
The 22-year-old can be called up anytime and be eligible for the postseason, but for now, the Yankees are choosing to stick with the slumping Alex Verdugo in left.
Verdugo had a pair of singles in Sunday’s 14-7 loss to St. Louis and is 11-for-30 with two extra-base hits in his last eight games, but he’s mostly slumped since June 15, as he has just a .539 OPS since then.
Boone praised Verdugo’s defense in left and said his at-bats have been “better” of late.
“Hopefully, it gets him going,’’ Boone said. “He’s capable. I do think he’s been a little unlucky this year.”
In Dominguez’s last 16 games with SWB, sandwiched around his one-game call-up to the Yankees on Aug. 18, the outfielder is 23-for-64 with six extra-base hits.
The one-game appearance with the Yankees against the Tigers in Williamsport, Pa., didn’t go well, as Dominguez went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and made a poor play in left field that helped cost them the game.
A year ago, Dominguez had four homers in his first eight MLB games before suffering the elbow injury.
Both Verdugo and Dominguez have struggled against lefties this season, but the switch-hitting Dominguez has a .958 OPS versus righties in the minors this year.
General manager Brian Cashman told MLB Network on Aug. 11 there was “currently no lane for us to bring him. It’s nice to know he’s there. He’s just knocking rust off and waiting for his opportunity if it comes.”
Ellis has played in eight games in the majors — all this season with the White Sox — primarily as a pinch runner.
“He’s just a great runner and with the extra [roster] spot, pick your spot,’’ Boone said of using Ellis as a pinch runner. “He can really defend in the outfield, so it added a little flexibility to the roster.”
He’s bounced around the minors this season, going from the White Sox system to the Mets and then Seattle on waivers.
He appeared in just one game for SWB before being promoted.
The Yankees also recalled right-hander Scott Effross, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2022, as well as Ron Marinaccio.
To make room on the roster, the club optioned first baseman Ben Rice and right-hander Will Warren to SWB and designated lefty Josh Maciejewski for assignment.