HOUSTON – Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells are diving into the big leagues head-first.
Both of the Yankees’ top prospects are in the lineup on Friday against the Astros, hours after their call-ups were officially announced, to make their major league debuts against Justin Verlander.
The switch-hitting Dominguez is batting fifth and starting in center field while the left-handed hitting Wells is batting seventh and starting behind the plate to catch Carlos Rodon.
Wells also caught Rodon during a June rehab start at Double-A Somerset, so there will be some familiarity there.
Dominguez is making his MLB debut at the age of 20 years and 206 days, becoming the youngest Yankee to appear in a game since right-hander Jose Rijo (19 years, 54 days) in 1984 and the youngest Yankees position player since Stan Javier (20 years, 111 days) also in 1984.
The bottom half of the Yankees’ lineup features five hitters aged 24 or younger in Dominguez (20), Anthony Volpe (22), Wells (24), Everson Pereira (22) and Oswald Peraza (23).
It marks just the second time in the last 54 years that the Yankees have five players 24 or younger start the same game.
The last time came in 1984 with a lineup that included Don Mattingly (23), Scott Bradley (24), Rex Huddler (24), Bob Meachem (24) and Mike Pagliarulo (24).
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