Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez Shows Glimpses Of Immense Upside

Jake Hirst saw it firsthand.

The Double-A Somerset hitting coach watched every swing as center fielder Jasson Dominguez lit up the Erie SeaWolves in the Eastern League finals, going 7-for-13 with three home runs and a double in the best-of-three series.

It was a glimpse at what the Yankees believe the switch-hitting Dominguez can be in the majors sooner than later.

“When he controls the zone as well as anybody else, and as well as he can, he gives himself the opportunity to let the impact and the power he has play up so much more,” Hirst said.

The 19-year-old Dominguez just about lived up to his billing in 2022, showing exceptional power, improved plate discipline and more at three levels.

The Dominican Republic native received plenty of attention when he signed at age 16 in 2019 and was dubbed “The Martian.” His $5.1 million bonus is a record for a Yankees international amateur.

He made big strides this season, hitting .273/.376/.461 with 16 home runs, 37 stolen bases, 72 walks and 128 strikeouts in 120 games for Low-A Tampa, High-A Hudson Valley and Somerset.

Hirst pointed to Dominguez refining his preparation from spring training through September.

“What Jasson does a good job of is preparing and knowing what the pitcher has in his arsenal, how it moves, how hard it is and what he tries to do in certain counts,” Hirst said. “He understands that the better he prepares, the easier it is in the box.”

Hirst said Dominguez will face a serious test at the Arizona Fall League.

“The big thing that I’m excited for is just to see him play against some really good pitchers and see how well he can execute,” Hirst said. “I’ve said this a lot, too. It’s about just how consistent can you be?

“Anybody can have a good week. Anybody can have a good month. But how consistent can you be over a long season? It’s just another opportunity to show that he can play more than a minor league season and into an extra month.”