Jasson Dominguez is one of the most talked about prospects the Yankees have had in a very long time, with the hype surrounding him feeling like something we haven’t seen before in terms of Minor League talent. Anthony Volpe captured the hearts of many fans around New York and is in the midst of a breakout season, but Jasson Dominguez came up and immediately provided a punch before landing on the IL with a torn UCL. It was a very brief tenure in the Bronx, but he’s made his impact felt in the organization, and he’s currently making a mockery of the Minor Leagues.
The data is remarkable across the board, as Dominguez has seemingly improved following his return from Tommy John Surgery, but the only question left is whether the Yankees will bring him up this season.
Jasson Dominguez Creating a Tough Question for the Yankees
Something I’ve emphasized on the Fireside Yankees podcast is that Jasson Dominguez would need time not just to build up on the field, but he’ll also need to find his power groove. Maybe he’s actually not from this planet, because in 18 games he already has five home runs. He’s been especially hot as of late, with those five blasts coming in his last 11 contests, and he’s destroying every single level he’s played at during his rehab assignment. It’s not a shocker he bulldozed Single-A, but it’s what he’s done since leaving Tampa that has jaws dropping.
While Dominguez already conquered Double-A last season, he was the youngest batter on the Somerset Patriots, and he posted a 170 wRC+ with a .632 SLG%. Immediately after being promoted to Triple-A to continue his rehab assignment, the Yankees have seen him continue tear things up, with three doubles and a round-tripper in his first four games with the Scranton RailRiders. The power, contact, and plate discipline have been excellent, with Dominguez showing an ability to lay off of pitches, but more importantly, take advantage of the mistakes he’s getting in-zone as well.
There’s still some work that needs to be done here, with Dominguez still needing to be built up to play the field for nine innings consistently. His defensive skills have always lagged behind his bat, as while he’s not a butcher in the outfield, his route-running isn’t as polished as you’d want it to be for him to stick there full-time. Furthermore, the Yankees have something of a log jam at the Major League level.
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Alex Verdugo has played extremely well, with a 111 wRC+ and +8 Defensive Runs Saved in left field, as he’s provided the Yankees with contact, plate discipline, and even a little bit of power. The Yankees have been happy with his play thus far, and it would be over-reactionary and almost disruptive to pull the plug on a player on pace for a pretty strong season in the Bronx.
Giancarlo Stanton has seemingly always had the ire of Yankees fans, and while he isn’t as productive defensively as Verdugo (he only DHs), the 116 wRC+ and .921 OPS with Runners in Scoring Position are still valuable. The Yankees won’t pull the plug on him while he’s going well, and the Yankees have all of their issues offensively in their infield, a position that Jasson Dominguez will likely never play.
The Yankees are in a tough spot here, although it’s objectively a very good problem to have since injuries have derailed this team in seasons past. Whether the Yankees see Jasson Dominguez or not seems to be based on whether Alex Verdugo or Giancarlo Stanton maintain their play or not, as if either player gets hurt or experiences a tough cold stretch, it could force their hand into promoting the young switch-hitting phenom.
Defensively, the Yankees would likely have to figure out if Aaron Judge is better suited for left field or center field, and that would create further discourse about any potential decisions. The Yankees are not “wasting” Jasson Dominguez by keeping him in Triple-A; he’s still yet to officially return from his rehab assignment. What they are doing is making sure that the no. 8 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America is continuing to get everyday opportunities as the Yankees contend for the pennant.
Also; Trent Grisham is not being sent down or cut for Jasson Dominguez right now. He’s playing once every few days, and that’s not the role Dominguez is suited for. Making your highly coveted outfield prospect a bench player in June would be a disaster for his development. We’ll see how the Yankees choose to handle this but don’t be fooled, The Martian will be ready when his time comes.