The Martian is learning to inhabit a new planet.
Jasson Domínguez played right field Tuesday at Triple-A and was scheduled to do so again Wednesday, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Dominguez has never played right field in the majors — and only done so once in his minor-league career — but could be preparing to take the injured Aaron Judge’s vacated spot.
“The good thing is reports [are] that he was very comfortable doing it,” Boone said before the series-sweeping 8-4 victory against the Guardians. “Seems like it went off without a hitch. His pregame [drill work] was apparently good, too. I think he was happy to do it to add to different ways he can help us.”
The Yankees could move versatile left fielder Cody Bellinger to right field to accommodate Domínguez, though Bellinger’s defense has been elite. And left field at Yankee Stadium is the more spacious ground.
Of course, that thinking assumes Dominguez (shoulder) will be promoted to the majors once his rehab is complete, which is no guarantee as Boone lives in the “day-to-day” world and prospect Spencer Jones continues to hit well in his second promotion.
“We invested so much because we switched Jasson to left field before last year to help with the transition so we wanted him to really focus on that,” Boone said. “But to be able to have the versatility, I think, is important. Spencer has done a good job of getting some real reps in both corner spots as well as continuing to have center field in play. I think it just adds to their overall value a little bit.”
Ryan Weathers, who will start Friday’s game on six days’ rest, was warming up in the fifth inning in case Carlos Rodón’s start was cut short.
He would’ve pitched an inning on regular rest to help a bullpen that threw 10 ²/₃ innings the previous two games.
“He was very much in play today — not just in an emergency situation, either — which is awesome in and of itself,” Boone said. “He was ready for whatever we needed. He could’ve factored in in a winning way.”
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If used, Weathers would’ve slotted back into the rotation on his next turn after off days.
“I think I’m glad we didn’t use him,” Boone quipped. “I was going to go to him in the sixth, but Carlos having a really efficient fifth and feeling like he was good to go back out for the sixth took [Weathers] out of it for at least the time being.”
The humidity that admittedly fatigued Gerrit Cole during Tuesday’s four-inning start, including a 29-pitch inning, was back (and worse) Wednesday afternoon.
Cole and Rodón both are working their way back after starting the season on the injured list.
“It’s definitely summer now,” Rodón said. “It was warm. It’s part of the gig. It’s what we do. There is a job to be done. Go out there and compete.”
Angel Chivilli (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A. He pitched in two games for the Yankees earlier this season.
