The legend of The Martian, the Yankees’ $5 million, 16-year-old worldwide coup
Jeff PassanESPN
CloseESPN MLB insider
Creator of “The Arm: Contained in the Billion-Greenback Thriller of the Most Priceless Commodity in Sports activities”
Within the tight-knit world of baseball within the Dominican Republic, the legend of the child unfold rapidly. He was a switch-hitter with world-class pace, an arm no person would problem and the physique of a person. Somebody referred to as him El Marciano, and the nickname caught. The Martian, it meant. As a result of there was no manner he was from this world.
The reward for Jasson Dominguez began when he was barely an adolescent, and it abounds nonetheless. And are available this Tuesday, when he’s anticipated to formalize a take care of the New York Yankees that features a $5 million signing bonus, the 16-year-old heart fielder instantaneously will grow to be probably the most fascinating prospect for the sport’s most storied staff, his debut subsequent yr eagerly anticipated by those that have not seen him in addition to by those that have.
That latter group consists of normal managers, worldwide scouting administrators and different front-office personnel — skilled skeptics — who nonetheless can not help however lavish Dominguez with the type of compliments reserved for the highest 1 % of the highest 1 %. Practically each description begins with a caveat that goes one thing like: “I do know this sounds loopy, however … “
“However,” one normal manger who has seen him mentioned, “he is like [Mike] Trout. And Trout wasn’t near this good when he was 16.”
“However,” a world scouting director who tried and didn’t signal Dominguez mentioned, “it is like Mickey Mantle. He is not 6-foot. He is a switch-hitter. He is obtained loopy energy. He is quick as s—. He loves enjoying.”
“However,” one other normal supervisor mentioned, “he is like — what’s that operating again’s title? The brief, robust one? Maurice Jones-Drew. He is all muscle. Nevertheless it’s not stiff. He is twitchy. Can transfer in all instructions.”
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One other veteran worldwide scouting director did not supply a participant comparability however did summarize Dominguez merely: “He is the perfect July 2 participant I’ve ever seen.”
July 2 is the annual signing day for worldwide amateurs, and in recent times as technological advances and superior scouting practices have helped higher establish the perfect Latin American gamers, Dominguez has distinguished himself on uncooked numbers. He commonly reaches upward of 110 mph exit velocities swinging from either side of the plate. Solely 28 main leaguers have hit a ball 110 mph no less than 10 instances this season. Dominguez, two scouts mentioned, has clocked round 6.three seconds within the 60-yard sprint. That is quicker than Mo Hampton, arguably the perfect athlete within the MLB draft class of 2019, who determined as a substitute to play cornerback at LSU this yr.
Courtesy Jasson Dominguez
This isn’t like the times of Jackson Melian, a hyped Yankees prospect from Venezuela who by no means made the main leagues. The conviction is stronger, the signings seen much less as gambles and extra as investments. It is what invitations the comparisons — that they don’t seem to be based mostly on physique or another intangible alone.
“Jasson has a sport that is very very similar to Mike Trout — besides he is a switch-hitter,” mentioned Ivan Noboa, Dominguez’s coach within the Dominican Republic. “It is a arduous title for me to say, as a result of it is actually excessive expectations for a 16-year-old. However what Jasson is everyone knows. I do know it is somewhat bit unfair to place them subsequent to one another. It is a heavy weight to hold. But when somebody can do it, it is him.”
Dominguez arrived at Noboa’s academy round his 13th birthday. Even then, he lower a robust determine, totally different from the wiry boys Noboa had hoped would develop into one thing. In the present day, Dominguez is 5-foot-11 and 195 kilos, the precise measurements Mantle was listed at throughout his enjoying days.
Day by day at Noboa’s academy, Dominguez wakened earlier than the solar rose and began his coaching routine. He was a pure left-handed hitter whose right-handed stroke caught up. He took reps at shortstop and even catcher, however his pace suited him finest in heart. At one level, Noboa mentioned, he began to consider the place Dominguez stood amongst these he had educated, together with Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara. That reply was clear: the perfect.
“I have been doing this for a very long time,” Noboa mentioned, “and it isn’t simply the blokes who practice with me. He is the best expertise I’ve seen.”
It is a expertise few have seen by design. In contrast to the Dominican Prospect League and Worldwide Prospect League, organizations that showcase younger Latin American gamers throughout a large number of video games, Noboa prefers non-public exercises. Dominguez not often if ever performed in video games in opposition to groups comprised of non-Noboa-trained gamers. One worldwide scout mentioned it scared him off of Dominguez.
That did not cease others. Amongst those that expressed vital curiosity in signing Dominguez, in line with sources, have been the Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels. Every was combating an uphill battle, contemplating the historical past of the Dominguez household.
Earlier than Dominguez was born in February 2003, his father, Felix Dominguez, and his mom, Dorca Gonzalez, have been attempting to decide on a reputation. His dad had the right one: Jasson, like Jason Giambi. Sure, Felix Dominguez, an unlimited Yankees fan, actually did title his son after Jason Giambi, and, sure, that second “s” actually is superfluous and it is pronounced like Jason.
The Yankees’ affinity for Jasson Dominguez may be summed up by his price. Hardly ever does a 16-year-old Latin American participant demand $5 million, not to mention get it. In an unrestricted market, a participant like Dominguez, two worldwide administrators mentioned, would obtain no less than a $10 million bonus. The league’s collective bargaining settlement limits what groups can spend on worldwide newbie expertise. The biggest bonus pool is $6.48 million. The Yankees’ restrict is barely lower than $5.four million. Basically, they imagine Dominguez is value greater than 90 % of their pool, which itself says one thing contemplating the Yankees’ current success within the Latin American market.
The fact: Each staff is aware of how useful a high-caliber prospect may be. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. challenge to be value a whole lot of thousands and thousands of every. Although he is solely 18, Wander Franco, now the sport’s No. 1 prospect, might nicely develop right into a $100 million shortstop for the Rays. Earlier than Dominguez, Franco had obtained the biggest signing bonus since mounted swimming pools have been instituted: $three.825 million. Dominguez, a number of evaluators mentioned, is that stage of participant — “and he is perhaps higher,” in line with one.
Even his most ardent followers acknowledge that as a result of Dominguez is so robust, so totally developed at 16, there won’t be room for the type of progress Tatis skilled as he crammed out. Neither that nor the shortage of outdoor sport motion gave two worldwide scouts pause. What Dominguez possesses now, they mentioned, is a lot.
He cannot present it till subsequent yr, as 16-year-olds do not play the season they signal their contract. Which implies Yankees followers should wait. The baseball world too. The excellent news is that now they’ve loads of time to organize themselves for one thing they’re going to imagine solely once they see. Orson Welles was proper in any case. The Martian is coming.