New York Yankees prospect Jasson Domínguez has exploded onto the Spring Training scene with an impressive stat line so far, but when can we expect to see The Martian in the majors?
Jasson Domínguez has impressed everyone with his Grapefruit League performance up to this point. But Yankees fans dreaming of seeing the youngster in the Bronx on Opening Day may have to pump the brakes.
Nicknamed “The Martian” because of his other-worldly tools, the up-and-coming outfielder has torn up Spring Training pitching. In 19 plate appearances, he’s collected seven hits, good for a .438 average. He’s also collected three walks and mashed three home runs along the way, contributing to his 1.526 OPS.
His third round-tripper of the spring left the bat at a scorching 106.8 mph and left the ballpark in a hurry.
While it’s still early and a very small sample size, the results are impressive considering that Domínguez is still just 20 years old and has only played five games at the Double-A level.
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Yankees’ second-overall prospect, the young Dominican has drawn comparisons to the likes of Bo Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout. Those are hefty expectations to carry at such a young age.
It’s no surprise, then, that experts have tempered their sky-high expectations a little, per MLB Pipeline.
While evaluators have reeled in their expectations a bit for Domínguez after his first pro season, he still has the chance to show at least solid-to-plus tools across the board. The switch-hitter generates tremendous bat speed from both sides of the plate and did more damage left-handed in his debut. He has prodigious raw power and produces high-end exit velocities, especially for a teenager, though he swung and missed more than expected in 2021 while facing much more advanced pitching than he ever had before.
Jasson Domínguez: Where will he play in 2023?
Last season, Domínguez played at three levels, moving through Low-A and High-A before a short stint in Double-A. Plus, he received an invitation to the Arizona Fall League, where he got experience against some of the top prospects in the game.
Despite his scorching Spring Training, odds are that the young outfielder will begin the season back in Double-A with the Somerset Patriots, where he only hit .105 with a .596 OPS in his limited time at the end of last season.
Domínguez needs to accumulate more at-bats to refine his game and prove he can handle Double-A. But if the top prospect continues his torrid hitting, the organization will want to move him up quickly to see how he fares against more advanced pitching in Triple-A.
Jasson Domínguez: When will he make his debut?
While it’s doubtful that the Spring Training standout makes the Opening Day roster this year, as entertained by Adam Weinrib of Yanks Go Yard, there’s a chance we could see Domínguez get the call to the majors before the end of the season.
If he continues living up to the lofty expectations in the minors, the Yankees may be forced to bring him up for a look when rosters expand later in the summer. You can be sure that they’ll want to keep his rookie eligibility intact for the start of the 2024 season, which is an Opening Day roster The Martian will likely make.