Yankees gave prospects strange numbers for their MLB debuts

New York Yankees prospects Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells got their first taste of the big leagues on Friday. However, their jersey numbers didn’t exactly match the occasion.

Wells and Dominguez were basically given spring training numbers to use for their debut game against the Houston Astros. Wells sported No. 88, while Dominguez wore No. 89; both men became just the second Yankees players ever to use those respective numbers.

Wells’ No. 88 has not been worn by a Yankees player since reliever Josh Outman played nine games in pinstripes back in 2014. Dominguez’s No. 89 was only previously worn in three games by pitcher Miguel Yajure in 2020. There’s clearly not a lot of history behind those digits.

When asked about the unorthodox jersey number before his debut, Dominguez sounded equally perplexed.

“I don’t know,” said Dominguez on the decision to wear No. 89.