Yankee fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Jasson Dominguez in action
The Yankees want to keep Jasson Dominguez a mystery for just a little longer. The Yankees top prospect, who hasn’t played a game yet, was held back at extended spring training because of his age and lack of experience.
“We’re in a different world,” senior director of player development Kevin Reese said Monday. “We didn’t play last year. Jasson is an 18-year-old that we’re all excited about. He’s got a lot of talent and a lot of skill. He hasn’t played in a ton of games. We just wanted to put him in the best place to succeed.”
Reese indicated that there is “absolutely,” a chance that Dominguez would eventually make his debut at low-A Tampa this year.
“As we tell the players, all of these decisions are short term,” Reese said. “Nothing is necessarily etched in stone and everybody has a chance to pave their own road ahead.
“He’s certainly in that group of guys that have a chance to impact a full-season roster.”
The Yankees signed Dominguez to a $5.1 million deal in his native Dominican Republic when he eligible at 16. Since then, scouts have come back from seeing him and raved about his raw power. He’s been compared to everyone from Mike Trout to Mickey Mantle.
Dominguez has posted clips on social media displaying his power.
That has just whetted the Yankees fans’ appetite for Dominguez. The mystery adds to the intrigue.
And it continues to build with Dominguez being held back.
Reese tried to paint a full picture.
“The first thing you notice is the physicality,” Reese said. “He doesn’t look like an 18-year-old kid. … He is very physical and you notice that in everything that he does. He’s explosive, whether it’s running, the way he warms up, the way he moves around. He jumps off the page as you watch him perform at whatever it is.”
Reese said Dominguez was impressive during minor league spring training. And he thinks fan will be impressed too — eventually.
“I apologize you have to wait a little bit longer for that mystery to unveil itself,” Reese said. “When it comes, you’ll know
