Yankees top talent Jasson Dominguez is about to return to action

NEW YORK —Jasson Dominguez, the New York Yankees’ top talent who has been out since suffering an oblique strain on June 15, is close to returning to action, according to manager Aaron Boone.

Boone said Dominguez participated in live batting practice on Monday at the organization’s spring training facility in Tampa against veteran reliever Nick Burdi, who is on the Yankees’ injured list.

The plan, according to Boone, is for Dominguez to move to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre by Wednesday to prepare before playing in games “intraweek.”

“He’s very close,” Boone said.

The 21-year-old Dominguez made his season debut in mid-May after completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery in September. He worked his way from the A-League to Double-A to Triple-A in less than three weeks, posting a .356/.404/.609 batting average with six home runs in 23 games across all three leagues before his injury.

The Yankees had no acute need for switch-hitter Dominguez on the roster at the time. Left fielder Alex Verdugo, the league’s worst hitter over the past five weeks, was still hitting well and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was healthy. That changed a week after Dominguez’s injury, when Stanton went on the injured list with a hamstring strain.

Stanton, who is nearing his return, took batting practice and ran the bases at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. He said Saturday he will either come off the injured list or begin a brief rehab period by the end of the week.

Stanton’s return does not preclude Dominguez from joining the Yankees for his second major league appearance after the highly touted prospect made his debut for the club last September. New York desperately needs consistent performances beyond Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, and Dominguez could provide a boost.

“He’s an option player, so he’s available whenever he starts playing,” Boone said.