Checking in on Yankees mega-prospect Jasson Dominguez entering 2023 – New York Daily News

Otherworldly, the Martian, the subsequent Mickey Mantle or just Mike Trout: These are the designations that have been broadcast throughout the baseball world about Jasson Dominguez when he inked a franchise-record worldwide contract with the Yankees.

In 2019, the Bombers signed Dominguez — who was arguably the highest-touted worldwide prospect in MLB historical past — to a contract with a $5.1 million signing bonus. Talent evaluators throughout the baseball trade have been bullish on the eye-popping instruments of the Dominican native with rankings as excessive because the No. 32 prospect in the sport — in line with MLB Pipeline — with out even stepping foot on a minor-league diamond.

“I don’t really think [the expectations are] fair.” Kevin Reese informed reporters in the Spring of 2021. “It’s hard to help him manage those expectations because he’s not going to show up tomorrow and perform like Mike Trout or Aaron Judge.”

The present-day analysis has fewer whispers of Mantle and Trout, and Dominguez’s Hall of Fame plaque has been put on maintain. Entering the 2023 season, MLB Pipeline has the 19-year-old checked in because the No. 47 prospect in baseball.

Despite the luster of a traditionally anticipated prospect sporting a bit, there are nonetheless loads of causes to dream on the instruments nonetheless in possession of the centerfield prospect.

Dominguez performed at three-different minor league ranges in 2022 — which was his first full minor league season — and seemingly obtained higher as he climbed up the latter. His slash line between Low-A, High-A and Double-A registered at .273/.376/.461 with 16 homers and 59 RBI in 120 video games.

Once he reached Double-A Somerset, the outfielder performed simply 5 common season video games earlier than setting the world on fireplace through the postseason. “The Martian” hit .450/.560/.950 with three homers and 10 RBI in 5 video games together with a 3-4 efficiency with homers from each side of the plate in the championship recreation all however making certain his spot at Double-A to start 2023.

Dominguez was granted the chance to place his skills on show for a nationwide viewers as he was named to the MLB Futures Game in 2022 — alongside fellow Yankee farmhand Anthony Volpe who batted fourth for the American League squad — at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles and gave them one thing price watching by blasting a 415-foot homer from the fitting facet registering at 107-mph off of the bat.

Despite the flash, there are lots of components to his recreation that also should be developed together with the in-game energy which is one thing that the Bombers are nonetheless ready to shine by on a extra constant bases. The switch-hitter often registers exit velocities over 100 mph even reaching as excessive as 117 mph in a sim recreation again in 2021 as an 18-year-old which ends up in excessive raw-power grades by evaluators.

A scorching subject of dialogue is the quantity of mass the younger outfielder has put on his body and what meaning for his pace and skill to stay in middle discipline long-term. However, Dominguez stole 37 bases in 44 makes an attempt final season indicating that the legs of the younger outfielder are nonetheless very current — though it’s essential to acknowledge the organization-wide enhance in stolen base makes an attempt and emphasis on baserunning all through the Yankees system.

Defensively, there are blended evaluations on whether or not Dominguez will even be a middle fielder when it’s all stated and performed, because the nook outfield spots could also be extra fitted to his body.

From MLB pipeline: “His play in center field draws mixed reviews, with some evaluators believing he’ll remain up the middle and others thinking his defensive inconsistencies will drive him to a corner. With his solid-to-plus arm strength and offensive promise, he’d have no problem profiling well in right field.”

As all the time, time will inform and it’s essential to contemplate the timeline when making observations relating to the prospect. Dominguez was the youngest participant on Double-A Somerset’s roster by virtually two years and has only one full season {of professional} baseball below his belt the place he completed simply two steps away from the Bronx.

There are loads of alternatives for Dominguez to attempt for on the main league stage. As it stands the Yanks at the moment don’t have a set reply in left discipline subsequent season or past and present middle fielder Harrison Bader is a free agent after the 2023 season. Should the switch-hitter transfer as rapidly by the minors this upcoming season as he did final yr, the Martian might contact down in the Bronx as quickly as 2024.