Jasson Dominguez's postgame comments lessen Yankees' injury concern (but we're not new here)

After the Yankees' disconnection from Randal Grichuk and Giancarlo Stanton's injury, the door was wide open for Jasson Domínguez to significantly contribute to the team in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, Nathan Eovaldi of the Rangers slammed that door shut directly on Domínguez's elbow.

The Yankees' newly-minted fourth outfielder flexed and extended his left arm in front of a trainer for several minutes on Wednesday afternoon, stayed in the game to run, then immediately exited in pain. Midgame, the team announced that Domínguez's X-Rays were inconclusive (swelling), he'd been diagnosed with a contusion, and he'd learn more after additional tests back in NYC. There's no way that's good.

But if you ask Domínguez, he's a bit more chipper about the whole thing. Maybe he was partially blinded by optimism and unwilling to let go of the opportunity in front of him by admitting he was in pain. Or maybe he was telling the truth, but willing to be blindsided by an eventual test showing loose bodies and the like.

Either way, after the game, Domínguez said he didn't feel any concern about the elbow and had full range of motion (when pressed).

Let's ... hope ... so? But this isn't our first day on earth. We're Yankee fans. We've experienced Dustin Fowler getting the call-up and immediately running knee-first into a storm drain. We've just lived through a "new-look bench" getting decimated in days after Amed Rosario ran into a wall and Austin Slater felt a tweak in the Texas heat. We want Domínguez to be right so badly, but that feels like a hope and dream more than something concrete..

Yankees' Jasson Domínguez injury could open up hope - for Spencer Jones

If Domínguez is more injured than he's letting on and his next round of tests is more depressingly conclusive, would the same opportunity that just opened for him open for Spencer Jones instead?

He's clocked seven home runs in 91 Triple-A at-bats, including a pair in his most recent contest against Buffalo. He's the boom-or-bustiest player in the system, but he's riding a moderate heater, striking out just twice in his past three games (while going 4-for-10).

Jones may not be ready to provide big-league consistency. He might never be ready to do that. If the Yankees need a fourth outfielder who can play above-average defense and occasionally run into one, though, instead of Max Schuemann, they know who to call.

The Yankees have displayed plenty of newfound urgency already this year. We don't want to have to deal with Domínguez's opportunity being extinguished through no fault of his own. But ... if it is ... it's clear where they should turn.

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