ARLINGTON – The final afternoon of the Yankees’ road trip seemed to offer Jasson Domínguez his clearest path yet to log consistent playing time this season. It ended with more uncertainty.
Domínguez exited Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to the Rangers shortly after being hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth inning. X-rays taken at Globe Life Field were “inconclusive,” according to the outfielder, who said he will undergo a CT scan on Thursday in New York.
“It got me right in the elbow,” Domínguez said. “As of right now, I don’t feel any concern. … Right when it hit me, my arm went numb a little bit, but [since] it’s just been swelling.”
Struck near the left elbow by an 89.1 mph Nathan Eovaldi cutter, Domínguez was in obvious discomfort, but remained in the game to run the bases before exiting.
“You hate seeing that,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully, the tests reveal not much and it’s just bruising, and we’ll work through it. But unknown at this point.”
Max Schuemann replaced Domínguez in left field for the bottom of the inning. Schuemann made his Yankees debut after being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Boone suggested that the move to designate Randal Grichuk for assignment could create more opportunities for Domínguez, especially against right-handed pitching.
Giancarlo Stanton landed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right calf strain, opening up at-bats in the designated hitter role. Domínguez took two turns as the DH in this series before appearing in left field on Wednesday.
The season opened with Domínguez on the outside looking in of the big league outfield picture, following moves to re-sign Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger during the offseason.
“This is baseball,” Domínguez said. “It is what it is.”