Jasson Domínguez spent the first half of last season in Low-A Tampa before a promotion to Hudson Valley. It made sense that he would finish the season there, considering he was in his first full year of Minor League Baseball at just 19. Instead, the Yankees chose to send Domínguez to Double-A Somerset on September 13th, as they were approaching the playoffs. The Martian’s response? A slash line of .450/.560/.950 in two playoff series, including a trio of homers and 10 RBI.
Call this a mutually beneficial decision. The Yankees didn’t merely get Domínguez some extra at-bats; they got to see him play in games that mattered with something on the line.