Top 100 NYY Prospects: Jasson Dominguez

Across the "Big-4" prospect sites is that the Yankees have 3 Top-100 prospects this year. Let's take a look at each of them:

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Past Prospect List Performances:

Since signing as a top international prospect in July, 2019, Jasson Dominguez has been one of the New York Yankees Top-30 prospects. Furthermore, he's also been one of the best Yankees prospects year-in and year-out. This isn't too surprising considering his incredible projections and abilities, but it is important to note that he's been held in high regard since the moment he joined the organization.

What is more impressive, however, is that Dominguez also been a yearly mainstay on most of the "Big 4" prospect lists- MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs. Since the pre-2020 season lists, when he first made an appearance, this is how Dominguez has looked:

2020: MLB Pipeline (#54), Baseball America (#38), Baseball Prospectus (#46), Fangraphs (#49)

2021: MLB Pipeline (#32), Baseball America (#33), Baseball Prospectus (#59), Fangraphs (#51)

2022: MLB Pipeline (#61), Baseball America (#87), Baseball Prospectus (N/A), Fangraphs (#73)

After two strong appearances in 2020 and 2021, Dominguez did see his stock drop going into the 2022 season. This is because he did not light the world on fire in his first MiLB experience in 2021, hitting just about .250 with just 5 home runs in 57 games across Rookie and A-Ball. This was disappointing after a missed season of MiLB experience in 2020 due to the COVID-shutdowns, and this was a major factor in being dropped as a Top-100 prospect by Baseball Prospectus.

Dominguez's 2022 season was much better, however, playing in 120 games while producing a .273 average across A, A+, and Double-A ball with 16 home runs. This even included a 40 game sample at A+ ball where Dominguez had a .306/.397/.510 triple-slash! Though his stint in the Arizona Fall League was not great (20 games, .159 AVG, 0 home runs). So, how does he fare going into 2023?

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2023 Top-100 Prospect Biography, Rankings, & Write-Ups:

This year, Dominguez has found himself back on all 4 lists, and on each he experienced a jump-up from last years list.

2023: MLB Pipeline (#47), Baseball America (#67), Baseball Prospectus (#63), Fangraphs (#50)

And here are the write-ups from each publication:

MLB Pipeline: (Link) - Ranked 47th

Age/D.O.B.: 20 Years Old/ February 7th, 2003

Height/Weight: 5'10"/190 Pounds

Bats/Throws: Switch/Right

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

"Perhaps the most hyped international prospect ever, Domínguez drew comparisons to Bo Jackson, Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout before signing for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic. He earned the nickname "The Martian" because of his otherworldly tools, and while he may have a difficult time living up to unrealistic expectations, he's on course to becoming at least a solid regular. He batted .273/.375/.461 with 16 homers and 37 steals in 2022 while advancing from Single-A to Double-A at age 19.

A switch-hitter, Domínguez generates tremendous bat speed and exit velocities from both sides of the plate but has been more effective hitting left-handed in his first two pro seasons. He made significant progress last year, controlling the strike zone better and driving the ball in the air more regularly after he moved up from Single-A. He still needs a couple of more years to develop in the Minors but could be a .270 hitter with 30 homers per season in his prime.

Though Domínguez has slowed down some since getting stronger and thicker after turning pro, he still has the solid speed and instincts to swipe 37 bases in 44 attempts last year. His play in center field draws mixed reviews, with some evaluators believing he'll remain up the middle and others thinking his defensive inconsistencies will drive him to a corner. With his solid to plus arm strength and offensive promise, he'd have no problem profiling well in right field."

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Baseball America: (Link; sub. req.) - Ranked #67

(Unfortunately, I cannot share the entire details of the Baseball America write-up as it is behind a paywall. However, I can share a small blurb from each:)

"Dominguez’s stock has fluctuated since signing in 2019, but he has reached the point where he may be underrated. He cleared both Class A levels in 2022 and reached Double-A, showing an advanced plate approach and showcasing his power in tough hitting environments."

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Baseball Prospectus: (Link; sub. req.) - Ranked #63

(Unfortunately, I cannot share the details of the Baseball Prospectus write-up as it is behind a paywall, nor did they supply a small blurb.)

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Fangraphs: (Link) - Ranked #50

Age: 20.0

Height/Weight: 5'11"/215 Pounds

Bats/Throws: Switch/Right

Scouting Grades: Hit (30/40) | Raw Power (60/65) | Game Power (30/60) | Run (60/55) | Fielding (40/50) | Throw (60) | Future Value (50)

"The Zion Williamson of baseball, Domínguez is a bulked-up, switch-hitting toolshed.

Often described on this website as “Baseball’s Zion Williamson,” Domínguez entered the 2022 season as one of the most volatile prospects in the sport. He signed for $5.1 million in 2019 as easily the toolsiest player in his signing class, a plus-plus running center fielder with huge switch-hitting power. In a bodily sense, he was also unlike any amateur prospect most scouts had ever seen. Built at age 16 like Maurice Jones-Drew or a late-20s Mike Trout, nobody was totally sure how Domínguez’s body and physicality would develop as he entered his 20s, and this (plus the internet hype) is where the Zion comp came from.

Domínguez also wasn’t seen facing live pitching very much as an amateur, so while his showcase tools were evident, there wasn’t as much confidence in his hit tool as is typical of a top-of-the-class prospect. At age 18, Domínguez spent most of his first pro season at Low-A, where he was only ok. Rust and the automated ball/strike system likely had an impact on his peripherals (31% K%, 10% BB%) in year one, but the Yankees felt they needed to send him back to the level to start 2022. After a little bit of a slow start, Domínguez not only made relevant adjustments there but improved upon promotion to High-A, where he slashed .306/.397/.510 and struck out just 19% of the time.

Some of the volatile characteristics of his profile are still here. Domínguez is massive for a 20-year-old, and even though he’s a plus runner who is currently a fit in center field, it’s hard to say how he’ll trend athletically into his 20s because there’s virtually no precedent for his build. His left-handed swing is very uphill, the sort typically associated with strikeout issues, but his levers are so short that his swing is still fairly compact. There will probably be a consistent hole against fastballs up and away for Domínguez. Things aren’t so bad that he’s in a red flag bust risk area because of his hit tool, but it’s enough that it will probably dial down how much in-game power he’s actually getting to. He doesn’t have traditional long-term power projection, but he’s already so powerful that if all the pop Domínguez ever has is what he’s working with now, it will still be plenty for him to be a good everyday big leaguer for as long as he’s a center fielder."

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