Yankees Notes: Jasson Dominguez 'should be good to go,' Fernando Cruz feels 'amazing' after return from IL
Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave an update on Jasson Dominguez and spoke about how Fernando Cruz looked in his return from the IL on Wednesday.
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After leaving Sunday's game with a thumb injury against the Dodgers, Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez has missed the team's last two games, including Wednesday night's loss against the Cleveland Guardians.
Manager Aaron Boone said before the game that Dominguez was feeling better and was available to pinch-run in Tuesday's game, but the team wanted the young outfielder to swing a bat in the cages on Wednesday without issue before he could return to the lineup. After the game, Boone was asked about Dominguez and the Yankees skipper was encouraged, saying everything went well in the cages.
"He should be good to go," Boone said.
Dominguez is slashing .247/.346/.420 with a .765 OPS this season with six home runs and 25 RBI in 49 games. The young outfielder is not an everyday player for Boone yet and is currently part of a four-man outfield that includes Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger.
Fernando Cruz first appearance off IL
Cruz made his triumphant return to the Yankees bullpen when he was activated on Tuesday, but didn't have his first appearance back off the IL until Wednesday, where he pitched a solid inning.
He struck out three batters but made one mistake pitch to Manzardo, who deposited his fastball over the right-center field wall.
"I thought Cruz was really good," Boone said after the game. "Obviously gave up the homer, Manzardo got him and ambushed him a little bit. Thought stuff was really good. Thought the fastball was good and tallied up three more of the ugliest swings on the forkball.
"Good to get him back in there. His stuff resembled who he is. He was pretty sharp. Manzardo just got him on a good swing on a fastball. Good to see him back out there. Reasonable pitch count, hopefully on his way again."
"I feel amazing," Cruz said of how he felt after the game. "Feel like everything was there. Velocity was there, stuff was there. Splitter feel amazing. Everything felt amazing out of my hand. It's a good time to give the team what it need. I'm ready, I feel good."
Cruz has become one of Boone's best relievers this season. After Wednesday's appearance, the 35-year-old has pitched to a 2.92 ERA and 1.01 WHIP but with 38 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.
