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Forbes
Forbes
1 Sep 2023


New York Yankees Spring Training

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Jasson Domínguez #89 of the New York Yankees smiles before a spring ... [+] training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on February 25, 2023 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The New York Yankees have begun the big league careers of two of their most coveted prospects.

Outfielder Jasson Dominguez, and catcher Austin Wells have been promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to join the Yankees big league roster.

MLB.com ranked Dominguez the No. 2 Yankees prospect. Wells was No. 8 on their list.

The Yankees had room on the team’s 40-man roster to add Dominguez and Wells, because they have released third baseman Josh Donaldson, and pitcher Spencer Howard.

2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game

DENVER, CO - JULY 11: Jasson Dominguez #25 of American League Futures Team walks on there field as ... [+] players warm up before a game against the National League Futures Team at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Jasson Dominguez is being promoted at the age of 20. He won’t turn 21 until February.

Stocky and strong, the switch-hitting Dominguez is only 5-9, 190 pounds

Dominguez was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2019. He received a $5.1 million signing bonus from New York.

Playing mostly in center field, Dominguez also played some in left during his minor league development.

At the time of his promotion, Dominguez had played only 295 minor league games. He had 1,315 plate appearances.

This season, Dominguez played 109 games for Double-A Somerset, and eight games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He hit a combined .265/.377/.425/.802 with 22 doubles, three triples, and 15 home runs. Dominguez drove in 76 runs.

Dominguez stole 40 bases in 48 attempts.

Dominguez drew a massive 82 walks this season, while he struck out 132 times.

Dominguez showed marked offensive improvement in the second half of the season.

Dominguez was a member of the American League team in the 2021 All Star Futures Game.

MLB: FEB 25 Spring Training - Yankees at Phillies

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 25: New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (89) hustles down to ... [+] first base during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on February 25, 2023 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This scout had a chance to evaluate Dominguez in the 2022 Arizona Fall League.

His appearance for Mesa in Arizona came after a sluggish beginning to his career in Rookie League and Class-A baseball.

Without a doubt, Dominguez has outstanding speed. It is probably his best tool.

Dominguez was striking out in his first two minor league assignments at a higher rate than was expected. However, he was only 18-years-old when he began his professional career.

Dominguez struggled to solve Fall League pitching. He was overmatched consistently, and pressed as the season progressed.

Dominguez finished the fall hitting a disappointing .159/.250/.217/.467 with four doubles, and no triples or home runs in 80 plate appearances covering 20 games.

Granted, the sample size was not great, but his appearances with Mesa gave scouts an opportunity to project his potential moving forward.

For this scout, Dominguez showed more promise as a left-handed hitter. He flashed very quick hands through the ball, a trait that he can build upon for his future. With that great bat speed, Dominguez should generate plenty of hard line drives.

Dominguez has made improvement during the season getting loft on the ball, something he didn’t accomplish last fall.

Dominguez is good at hitting the ball up the middle, the way most prospects are taught in their development.

Using an open and upright stance, one can project power from his strong wrists and quick hands. To date, the power hasn’t emerged. However, with the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, Dominguez should be able to get a fair share of home runs swinging left-handed in his home park.

Very agile and athletic, it is his speed and first-step quickness that really drew this scout’s attention. Given the new rules in MLB, it should not be difficult for Dominguez to steal bases with ease. If he gets on base enough, he could be among the league leaders in steals.

The initial challenge will be getting on base.

For this scout, Dominguez projects to be a better than average hitter, with emerging power. However, he doesn’t profile as the superstar hitter many projected when the Yankees signed Dominguez.

Defensively, Dominguez plays a solid center field. He has above average first-step quickness.

Dominguez is likely targeted to play center field for the parent Yankees, However, he projects best to this scout as a left fielder. Dominguez has a good arm.

Overall Scouting Grade: 55-a better than average major league player.

New York Yankees Spring Training

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Jasson Domínguez #89 of the New York Yankees smiles during Spring Training ... [+] at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 23, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Getty Images

This writer remembers a Yankees outfield prospect named Brian Taylor.

Taylor was the Yankees first round draft pick in 1991. A Scott Boras client, Taylor was viewed as a “can’t miss” player.

Taylor missed. It happens.

Like Taylor, Jasson Dominguez has received plenty of hype.

Unlike Taylor, this writer feels Dominguez will find success. Maybe not super stardom.

If nothing else, Dominguez may run himself into being a very solid MLB player.

When first signed out of the Dominican Republic, the hype surrounding young Jasson Dominguez was beyond description. Comparisons to iconic players were made. He was said to be on a trajectory to “fly” through the Yankees system and become an impact player instantly.

One hopes the Yankees exercise patience with Dominguez.

He may be good, but he has work to do to refine his game. He is still young, and still raw as a player.

Overall, this scout does not believe Jasson Dominguez to be a finished major league player.

It will be important for Yankees fans to remember Dominguez is still only a 20-year-old player. He is still gaining experience. He is still learning.

Patience with Dominguez is required. He is a perfect definition of “a work in progress.”

Given MLB roster expansion to 28 players, and room on the 40-man roster created by recent player releases, the timing was good to promote Dominguez.

It is this writer’s view that Dominguez may return to Triple-A to start next season. He will be able to get more at-bats and continue his development with little to no pressure.