Jasson Dominguez, the No.2 prospect for the New York Yankees is moving to the Double-A affiliate Somerset Patriots. His 2019 signing broke the franchise record. The outfielder went on to become part of the 2021 and 2022 All-Star Futures.
The 19-year-old right-hander ended this season with a strong performance at the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades.
Dominguez first appeared in the 2021 spring training and made his debut with the Florida Complex League Yankees in June that year. His performance led him to play at the Low-A Tampa Tarpons.
Dominguez got his promotion to the Hudson Valley Renegades this year after starting the season for the Tampa Tarpons. He hit .266/.374/.440, including nine home runs, in 75 games. He caught the attention of the Yankees’ top brass with his majestic performance that also comprised 36 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases.
The Dominican-born player is the first prospect to play in the Futures even without completing a minor league season.
On July 22, the 19-year-old was moved up to the Renegades. In 40 games with the team, he hit .306/.397/.510 with six home runs, 22 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.
Dominguez had his first multi-home run game as a member of the Renegades on Saturday night. He hit two home runs and drove in three runs on four hits, but the Renegades lost 7-5 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Rob Benjamin, the hitting coach for Hudson Valley, praised the switch-hitter after the game, saying that he is wise beyond his years.
According to Rob Terranova of MLB.com:
“He’s just such a great kid, a phenomenal athlete, really just a fantastic human being, and what he’s been doing lately is impressive. He’s been really open to our discussions and having quality at-bats and making quality decisions, and he’s just been really receptive in pre-game meetings and just really inquisitive, which is fantastic for a kid his age and shows a really advanced mindset and approach both in meetings and at the plate.”
Dominguez is the second-best prospect for New York after shortstop Anthony Volpe, who is already in the reckoning with a strong showing. Nicknamed “the Martian,” he is among 10 best outfield prospects in the league. Overall, he occupies the 42nd position in the ranking for prospects.
Analysts believe Dominguez is rising fast to the level of Arizona’s Druw Jones and Cleveland’s George Valera, two of the best prospects.
In 2019, when Dominguez was only 16 when the Yankees signed him to a deal that included a $5.1 million signing bonus. It was the most money the team had ever paid for a player from another country.
According to MLB.com, Dominguez isn’t expected to play in Major League Baseball until 2024.
Do you think the Yankees will keep him out until 2024? Who are other prospects you like to watch?
