MILWAUKEE — Jasson Dominguez has been out of sight since the Yankees left spring training, but the promising young outfielder is making progress back in Tampa, Fla.
Seven months removed from UCL reconstruction surgery — for which the Yankees gave an anticipated recovery process of nine to 10 months — Dominguez could be playing in minor league rehab games by this time next month.
“He’s doing well,” manager Aaron Boone said Friday at American Family Field. “I saw today he was [throwing] out to 135 feet and [taking batting practice] and all that. He’s probably a few weeks away from playing in [rehab] games.”
There is still plenty of time to go before Dominguez might be in a position to impact the Yankees.
And even once he is deemed healthy, it remains to be seen whether he would immediately return to the majors or go to Triple-A to get more seasoning after an impressive eight-game cameo last September.
But at the very least, his rehab process has gone smoothly so far.
“I just know he’s doing well and getting close to being ready to do some things,” Boone said.
Aaron Judge turned 32 on Friday, hoping to continue his past success on his birthday.
Before the series opener against the Brewers, Judge had hit .412 with a 1.486 OPS in five career games on his birthday.
More importantly, the Yankees captain had shown more signs earlier this week of looking more like himself.
“He’s getting there,” Boone said. “I think just finding that next level of timing where then all of a sudden, he really takes off. I like that he followed up a couple days where he got some results with a couple walks [Thursday]. Felt like it was moving slow and taking what the game gives you. Hopefully he’s getting ready to really bust through.”
Trent Grisham, once a first-round pick of the Brewers, made his sixth start of the season on Friday, playing center field with Judge moving to DH and Giancarlo Stanton getting a day off in a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.
Through his first five starts, Grisham was 0-for-12 with two walks and four strikeouts.
“Probably tough, but one of those, it’s not allowed to be tough,” Boone said of Grisham’s transition to a bench role. “We gotta make the best of it. Bottom line is he’s a really good player. I hope to get him in there more often. Trying to get him in there. Obviously early in the season with, knock on wood, some guys healthy, it’s been a little bit of a challenge.
“But bottom line is he can impact us every time he’s in there with what he brings to the table defensively but also what he’s capable of at the plate. Hopefully these one-offs where he plays, he can go out there and be a spark for us.”
Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) is set to throw live batting practice on Saturday in Tampa. … The Yankees officially added reliever Michael Tonkin to their active roster on Friday after claiming him off waivers from the Mets on Thursday.
