DENVER — The Martian has an approximate landing date in The Bronx.
“Yeah, my goal is to hopefully be there in about three or four years,” Jasson Dominguez, the Yankees’ highly touted, 18-year-old outfield prospect, said through an interpreter Sunday at Coors Field before the annual All-Star Futures Game.
Dominguez, whom the Yankees signed out of the Dominican Republic two years ago for a record $5.1 million bonus, became the first player to ever participate in this game, which began in 1999, without clocking a full minor league season. He went 0-for-3, striking out twice (once lefty, once righty) and lining out to third base (righty).
The opportunity to showcase himself “feels great. Very exciting,” he said. “I’m a little emotional right now, but it’s definitely a dream come true for me.” The 5-foot-10, 190-pound switch hitter recently made his debut for the Rookie-level Yankees in the Florida Complex League. He owns a .200/.407/.200 slash line in seven games totaling 27 plate appearances.
Yankees minor league hitting coach Rachel Balkovec, who has been working with Dominguez this season, said, “Everyone talks about his baseball skills. I want people to know that kid is a special person. His work ethic is incredible. He’s even a leader, I would say, amongst the young guys. He’s definitely a leader. He’s done things the right way, he learns fast, he asks good questions, he challenges me as a coach … and that’s actually your dream. He takes ownership of his career and I think that’s actually what makes him pretty special.
“What’s really unique is he has that talent and he has 10-out-of-10 makeup and that’s extremely rare. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’d like to think he’s going to go really far.”