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2 prospects Yankees should rush to MLB and 1 they shouldn't

There's a place in New York for two of these players before September...

By Adam Weinrib |
New York Yankees Spring Training
New York Yankees Spring Training / New York Yankees/GettyImages
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The New York Yankees aren't exactly knocking down the door of the playoff bracket right about now, situated 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays at the conclusion of Vlad Jr., Davis Schneider and Co. sweeping the Red Sox out of their house (surely, Vlad knows that feeling well).

Harrison Bader's relentless positivity might've rankled a few folks on Sunday, but if the Yankees play as well as they did in the non-Severino games against the Houston Astros this weekend, they might just have a shot at remaining relevant down the stretch. They were one clutch hit Sunday away from taking three out of four.

Of course, falling one clutch hit short -- in an astounding number of opportunities -- has been their MO since 2018, so who knows if there's any more room to progress here?

If the Yankees are going to prove it's "right in front of them" and make a run in August/September, they're going to need to shake things up a bit. Saturday's win was inspirational! It also featured a Jake Bauers solo homer, a Gleyber Torres solo homer, and a sacrifice fly. That's typically not going to cut it.

Luckily, the Yankees have a few prospects rising through the ranks right now -- at positions of need! -- who'd make perfect September call-ups. In fact, they have one prospect who might make a perfect Aug. 9 call-up.

Though New York's brass should still be extra careful with one of their big names who's catching aflame, it feels like the Yankees would benefit from rushing these two prospects into the spotlight this fall.

2 prospects who should be with Yankees in September (and 1 who needs more time)

Yankees Prospect to Promote: Everson Pereira

Prior to their weekend series at Fenway Park, the Blue Jays were having all the same conversations the Yankees were about their struggling lineup. If everyone played to the back of their baseball cards, everything would be fine! Still, though, it might help to insert someone, anyone, who'd been scorching at Triple-A just to insert a new face into the mix.

What happened? The Blue Jays called up Davis Schneider from Buffalo, he recorded nine hits and two homers in three games, and Toronto swept after dropping their first seven games of the season to the Red Sox.

Why are we telling you this? Because the Yankees certainly need Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Co. to play to the backs of their baseball cards to succeed, but ... adding Everson Pereira, who Brian Cashman has mentioned as a left field option, could help deemphasize their importance slightly.

Pereira has been a walking flame ball since being promoted to Scranton, hitting .340 with five bombs and a .955 OPS in 24 games at the level. Let's face it. If he was a lefty, he might already be up here. Unlike most of the Yankees' prospects, Pereira has a real chance to solve a significant issue in 2024. Why not get a preview of what that could look like when the Yankees could use it most?

Yankees Prospect to Promote: Austin Wells

In the absence of Jose Trevino, who struggled all year long through what was later revealed to be a wrist issue in need of surgical repair, the Yankees have rolled with wild card Ben Rortvedt and defense-first catcher Kyle Higashioka behind the plate.

Rortvedt has yet to display the above-average offense he proffered from the left side in Scranton (.286 with a .900 OPS), hitting .125 in 24 at-bats in MLB this year. Defense-first catcher Kyle Higashioka threw a ball into left field Sunday as Jose Altuve raced for third, then dropped a foul tip third strike from Yordan Álvarez immediately preceding a two-run home run. If defense-first catcher Kyle Higashioka would like me to stop writing his name in that manner, he simply needs to play better defense.

If the Yankees don't want to continue valuing gloves that aren't quite there behind the dish, they might want to try Austin Wells before the end of the season.

New York's brass would have a better argument about ignoring Wells if the "all in" approach to defense was yielding consistently excellent results. As it stands, outside of Gerrit Cole and his comfort requirements, the Yankees shouldn't be wedded to either of their current options. Offense is a far more pressing need, and Wells has batted .260 with a .387 OBP in 14 games behind the dish in Scranton.

He's a left-handed power bat who could theoretically DH on Giancarlo Stanton off days. Imagine being able to say that about any Yankees catcher, post-Posada? 2024 should be Wells' year to get a real shot (though, knowing the Yankees, they'll bury him), but Sept. 2023 should be his audition.

Yankees Prospect to Be Careful With: Jasson Dominguez

After a difficult three months to begin the campaign, Jasson Dominguez is scorching the baseball again at Double-A the way he was in spring training, leaving many impatient Yankee fans clamoring for his imminent promotion.

Do not do that.

Dominguez, who was anointed at such a young age it's easy to forget he was born in 2003/is younger than 2021 Red Sox first-rounder Marcelo Mayer, finally hit his stride in the Eastern League in July. He hit .309 with a pair of home runs, 15 RBI and an .808 OPS, simplifying his approach and allowing the power to come to him rather than seeking it. August? So far, so much better in six games (.400 average, 1.083 OPS).

He looks the part, all of a sudden. He's silently stolen 33 bags. He doesn't turn 21 years old until February. And, now that the Yankees have gotten him on track, they cannot afford to expedite him to MLB, Volpe-style, and undo his progress.

Rest assured, no matter how slow the Yankees play Dominguez's next year, there will be another adjustment period at Triple-A, and then again at the MLB level. The Martian has shown in 2023 that he's able to shake off historic scuffles to eventually prosper by the end of the season. Still, it'll be best for the Yankees to avoid putting their most famous prospect in a terrible situation. Give him a week or two of Triple-A this season, at most, then regroup next year.

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