HOUSTON — When the Yankees beat the Astros on Friday night, they did so with five rookies in their lineup. Another came from the bullpen.
With Jasson Domínguez (20), Everson Pereira (22), Oswald Peraza (23), Anthony Volpe (22) and Austin Wells (24) all starting, it marked just the second time since 1971 that the Yankees had five players 24 or younger start the same game. Randy Vásquez, also 24, then delivered two scoreless innings in relief.
“It’s very special,” Wells, who debuted alongside Domínguez, said before the game. “I don’t know a lot of guys who can say they debuted with four or five guys from the minors that they played with.”
Domínguez, whose MLB debut had been highly anticipated ever since he signed a $5.1 million contract as a 16-year-old, stole the show when the centerfielder homered off Justin Verlander — who is twice his age — in his very first at-bat.
Wells, on the other hand, caught all of the game after catching a single during his first plate appearance.
But the Yankees’ youth movement amid a disastrous season is about more than just the two players who played their first game on Friday.
Volpe is destined to be a major player in the future after becoming the…
