Superhuman Bryce Harper’s 160-Day Recovery From Tommy John Brings Hope to ‘Alien’ Jasson Dominguez and New York Yankees After Crushing UCL Injury

Jasson Dominguez has taken the New York Yankees‘ hopes for the postseason with him. The rookie played just eight MLB games before a torn UCL put him on the injured list. Most of those games ended in a historic run for ‘The Martian’ in such a short time. So naturally, Bronx fans are wondering what’s next. How soon can Dominguez return to the team as its savior? Can he follow in Bryce Harper’s footsteps?

Surgery is currently the only option for the Yankees youngster. It has been predicted to make him miss the 2024 season until at least the All-Star break. There was the rare instance of the Philadelphia Phillies slugger and his quick return, which made some fans label him ‘insane.’ Can Dominguez be this lucky too?

Can Jasson Dominguez Somehow Follow Bryce Harper’s Recovery Timeline?

As a general rule, 9-10 months is considered the average timeline of recovery for a Tommy John surgery. Bryce Harper did it in little more than 5 months. The Phillies’ DH gave a brilliant performance in the 2022 World Series after getting named the NLCS MVP. But the offseason was reserved for surgery for the UCL tear in his right elbow, which took place in November. Fast forward to May 2023, and the Phillies player was back in the lineup at Dodger Stadium.

Granted, he wore a cast to keep his elbow braced, but his powerful presence came at just the right time for the struggling Phillies. Jasson Dominguez had served much the same role for the Yankees, called up to the majors near the end of the season. But his UCL tear derailed his career before it started, making fans lose all hope for 2023. However, the 20-year-old might be able to stand up to his ‘alien’ reputation just yet.

There’s a decade of age difference between these two players and that begs to reason that Dominguez could recover quicker than is expected of him. Not to mention, the club is hoping that he might not need Tommy John at all. According to Andy Martino, the young slugger is still evaluating if surgery can be avoided. A different route that Dominguez can choose is an internal bracing procedure that is less intense.

It was the procedure Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story chose and he returned in just seven months. Judging by the Yankees’ timeline, Dominguez could return to the field in mid-to-late May. But just like was the case with Harper, only medical professionals can confirm at the time of surgery what he will need.

Can ‘The Martian’ Beat the Odds?

Even with an injury as common as a UCL tear, it’s impossible to say. Each player is different and their bodies will react to it accordingly. It’s now only a matter of what procedure Dominguez chooses.

WATCH THIS STORY – “Alpha Male”: 160 Days After Tommy John Surgery, Bryce Harper Shocks the World While Wearing a Cast on MLB Return

Even the league’s only two-way player Shohei Ohtani is going through it. And although he may have previous experience dealing with the same injury, no one can predict what trajectory the next surgery, if it happens, will take. All fans can hope for now is that the players make it back safely and quickly.

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