Yankees Take Patient Approach With Jasson Dominguez

The Yankees don’t need outfielder Jasson Dominguez to hit a monster home run. They don’t need another “wow” throw to home plate from center field. Those will come.

Rather, the Yankees need Dominguez to play more. They believe with more game action he’ll continue to prove well worth the hype.

“All the tools are there,” Yankees hitting coordinator Joe Migliaccio said. “He just needs at-bats.”

Dominguez only just turned 19 years old.

Last season—his first playing professional games after signing in 2019—he was more than three years younger than the average player in Low-A Southeast. Still, he managed to hit a respectable .258 with five home runs and a .744 OPS in 49 games. He struck out 31% of the time and drew walks nearly 10% of the time.

But Dominguez’s offensive tools were undeniable. In spring training, he hit a home run at 114 mph. In Low-A, he smoked a 112 mph single. The average maximum exit velocity for a big leaguer is 110 mph.

As the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Dominguez progresses, the Yankees will have a better idea of how the talent that netted him a $5.1 million bonus in 2019 plays in games. That bonus represents a franchise record for an international amateur.

The Dominican Republic native will also be the recipient of more consistent scouting reports. Pitchers often tinker more in the lower levels.

“He’ll start to apply in-game adjustments quicker to learn how to adjust to pitch-tipping,” Migliaccio said. “And when it all comes together, he’s not going to chase off the plate. He’s not going to chase down. He’s going to force you to throw a pitch over the plate.

“And when you do, you just won’t be getting that baseball back.”

Migliaccio commended Dominguez’s approach off the field as well.

“His eagerness to just continue learning new information is beyond his years,” the instructor said. “He just has this captivating personality about him. It’s just really fun to be around.”