From another world, the Martian, the next Mickey Mantle or just Mike Trout: these are the designations that were broadcast in the baseball world about Jasson Dominguez when he signed a franchise-record international contract with the Yankees .
In 2019, the Bombers signed Dominguez — who was arguably the most touted international prospect in MLB history — to a contract with a signing bonus of $5.1 million. Baseball industry talent evaluators were bullish on the Dominican native’s stunning toolset with rankings as high as the game’s No. 32 prospect — according to MLB Pipeline — without even setting foot on a minor league diamond.
“I don’t really think [the expectations are] fair.” Kevin Reese told reporters in the spring of 2021. “It’s hard to help him manage those expectations because he’s not showing up tomorrow and performing like Mike Trout or Aaron Judge.”
The current rating has fewer whispers of Mantle and Trout, and Dominguez’s Hall of Fame plaque has been put on hold. Going into the 2023 season, MLB Pipeline has registered the 19-year-old as the No. 47 prospect in baseball.
Despite the brilliance of a historically anticipated prospect carrying a bit, there are still plenty of reasons to dream about the tools still in possession of the center field prospect.
Dominguez played at three different minor league levels in 2022 – which was his first full minor league season – and apparently improved as he climbed the latter. His slant line between Low-A, High-A and Double-A came in at .273/.376/.461 with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs in 120 games.
Once he reached Double-A Somerset, the outfielder played just five regular-season games before setting the world on fire in the playoffs. “The Martian” hit .450/.560/.950 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in five games, including a 3-4 performance with home runs on both sides of the plate in the championship game while securing its place in Double-A for the beginning of 2023.
Dominguez had the opportunity to showcase his talents to a national audience as he was named to the MLB Futures Game in 2022 – alongside fellow Yankee farmer Anthony Volpe who batted fourth for the American League team – during of All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles and gave them something worth watching by blasting a 415-foot homer on the right side while registering at 107 mph off the bat.
Despite the flash, many elements of his game still need to be developed, including power play, which the Bombers are still waiting to see on a more consistent basis. The batter regularly records output speeds over 100 mph even reaching 117 mph in a simulation game in 2021 at the age of 18, leading to high raw power ratings by reviewers.
A hot topic of discussion is how much mass the young outfielder has put on his frame and what that means for his speed and ability to stay in center field long term. However, Dominguez stole 37 bases on 44 attempts last season, indicating that the young outfielder’s legs are still very much in evidence – although it’s crucial to recognize the rise in stolen base attempts across the board. organization and emphasis on grassroots running throughout the Yankees system.
Defensively, there are mixed reviews on whether Dominguez will even be a center fielder when all is said and done, as outside corner spots may be more suited to his frame.
From the MLB Pipeline: “His play in center field is getting mixed reviews, with some reviewers believing he’ll stay in the middle and others believing his defensive inconsistencies will drive him into a corner. With his solid arm strength to plus and his offensive promise, he would have no problem shaping well in right field.
As always, time will tell and it’s crucial to consider timing when making observations about the prospect. Dominguez was the youngest player on the Double-A Somerset roster in nearly two years and has only one full season of professional baseball under his belt where he finished a stone’s throw from the Bronx.
Dominguez has plenty of opportunities up for grabs at the major league level. As it stands, the Yanks currently don’t have a definite answer in left field next season or beyond and current center back Harrison Bader is a free agent after the 2023 season. faster in the minors this coming season than last year, the Martian could land in the Bronx as early as 2024.