Jasson Dominguez Snubbed For Another Outfield Call Up!

OH MAN. Rosters expanded and the Yankees called up another outfielder….but it wasn’t Jasson Dominguez. It was the Yankees perfect opportunity to call up the organization’s top prospect and strengthen the outfield, but that chance goes to someone else.

That someone else is Duke Ellis, a 26 year old outfielder and pinch runner that the Yankees claimed off waivers from the Mariners last week. Ellis has only made eight appearances in the majors this season, so it’s really strange that the Yankees would pass up the opportunity to bring back their top prospect to big league action after he impressed everyone last season. Aaron Boone tried to give an explanation, you can read that HERE but here’s the summary:

“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.”

Ellis, the great runner has bounced around this season going from the White Sox, to the Mets, then the Mariners and now us. He’s the better option to Dominguez? All we need is a runner? That’s going to take this team to the next level, especially with a struggling Alex Verdugo. This is the championship caliber team now! Right….

Verdugo has been in a landslide sized slump since June. Boone calls him “unlucky” but even with A LOT more luck on his side, he’s not that good. It’s September, and the end of the regular season will be here before we know it. We have no more time for games and stupidity. The promotion of Ellis over Dominguez with Verdugo still getting reps in left field is just insanity.

Three weeks ago we wrote THE YANKEES ARE IN A TOUGH SPOT WITH JASSON DOMINGUEZ! and we shared how Brian Cashman said “there’s currently no lane for us to bring him in” and now it’s just infuriating. Funny how there was no lane to bring Dominguez up but there is one for a non-difference maker like Ellis.

The Yankees talk a lot about having a “championship caliber roster.” I haven’t bought that story at all BUT every day that passes with Dominguez still in the minors it means the Yankees do not have their best 28 players in the show because they are using spare parts instead. That is not what a “championship caliber roster” is made of.

–Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa