Hot Martian Spring Could Warp Speed Trip To The Bronx
Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez are making their major league spring training debuts for the New York Yankees this week. Both have reputations that have preceded them for years before either will play a game in the Bronx. Volpe is expected to compete for the starting shortstop job for Aaron Boone's 2023 squad. Dominguez is not.
For most purposes, Jasson Dominguez is in big league spring training camp to get his feet wet against some major league pitching and prepare to compete for a roster spot next year. That is unless the phenom outfielder has an other-worldly spring.
Jasson Dominguez signed with the New York Yankees a few months after he turned 16. Last week the 47th ranked prospect in MLB celebrated his 20th birthday. Few Pinstripes' minor leaguers have been faced as much fanfare prior to reaching Double-A as Dominguez. So far, the player that was dubbed "The Martian" is living up to the hype. Dominguez hit 16 home runs and posted an .837 OPS at three levels in the minors last season. But does that mean he could make the big league roster this spring?
General manager Brian Cashman has a hole in left-field. They have players that could fill the hole for now but they certainly don't have a potential star to roll out there each night, except if you include Dominguez in Aaron Boone's mix. Is it far fetched? Maybe but I don't think so. The Yankees desperately need a left-handed bat with some pop deeper in their line-up. Jasson Dominguez is a switch-hitter.
Do you know how Dominguez got his nickname "The Martian?" It was his out-of-this-world athleticism. That athleticism is more than beginning to develop. Is it a long shot he is in the dugout in the Bronx on March 30th? It is but at the same time, the reality of Jasson Dominguez having a huge spring and making the major league roster isn't an idea completely from Mars.