Yankees place top prospect Jasson Dominguez on injured list

BOSTON -- New York Yankees top prospect Jasson Dominguez was placed on Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's injured list Sunday with a left side injury.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Dominguez suffered the injury on an "awkward" checked swing in his third plate appearance Saturday. He finished the at-bat, striking out looking, and played another inning in center field before he was removed from the game. He went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and two strikeouts.

"He's getting testing today," Boone said before the Yankees lost9-3to theBoston Red Sox on Sunday. "But it's enough to put him on the IL right away at least. I'm sure we'll have an idea -- hopefully have an idea -- with what exactly we got by tonight or [Monday]."

One of the more heralded prospects in recent years, Dominguez, nicknamed "The Martian," made his major league debut last September before his 21st birthday. He played in eight games for the Yankees, batting .258 with four home runs, before tests revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned to the field after surgery in mid-May on rehab assignment.

The rehab assignment ended Wednesday when the Yankees, who have a surplus of outfielders, activated Dominguez from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Dominguez slashed .389/.405/.609 in nine games in Triple-A before the injury.

Dominguez was in the outfield for Gerrit Cole's dominant rehab start Friday for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The question now is whether Cole's next outing will be his season debut in New York this week.

The Yankees are choosing between having Cole and Cody Poteet start Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. The team has "TBA" listed for now.

"I think we're just going to get through today and probably make it tonight or certainly [Monday]," Boone said.

Cole, 33, has made three rehab starts since returning to game action after being diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in mid-March. On Friday, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner held the Rochester Red Wings to one unearned run on two hits over 4 innings. He struck out 10, walked none and threw 68 pitches. In all, he has given up two runs (one earned) across 12 innings in his rehab showings.

"We don't have to make that final call right now," Boone said. "He's going to pitch, probably in that five- or six-day window coming off his last one. Let's just not tie ourselves to something until really we have to."