Jasson Domínguez

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Jasson Domínguez

|image = Jasson Dominguez (JdNz3veBb7c) (cropped).png

|caption = Domínguez with the Somerset Patriots in 2022

|team = New York Yankees

|number = 24

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|2|7}}

|birth_place = Esperanza, Dominican Republic

|bats = Switch

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 1

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 22, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .213

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 8

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 22

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Jasson Domínguez González ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|eɪ|s|ən}}; born February 7, 2003), nicknamed El Marciano or the Martian, is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Yankees in 2019, and made his MLB debut in 2023.

Early life

Domínguez was born in Esperanza, a municipality of the Valverde Province in the Dominican Republic on February 7, 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/beisbol/dominguez-la-joya-mas-cara-de-julio-2-estoy-preparado-para-asumir-el-reto-LG13268120|title=Domínguez, la joya más cara de Julio 2: "Estoy preparado para asumir el reto"|first=Nathanael Pérez|last=Neró|work=Diario Libre|date=July 3, 2019 |language=Spanish|accessdate=July 5, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184424/https://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/beisbol/dominguez-la-joya-mas-cara-de-julio-2-estoy-preparado-para-asumir-el-reto-LG13268120|url-status=live}} He is the second of six children born to Félix Domínguez and Dorca González. Félix is a former baseball player and a fan of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Félix named his son after Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi.

Domínguez began to train for a career in baseball at the age of eight.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-is-ready-for-liftoff |title=Jasson Dominguez is ready for liftoff |work=Mlb.com |date= |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185938/https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-is-ready-for-liftoff |url-status=live }} He signed with trainer Iván Noboa at age 13. Domínguez played as a catcher before transitioning into a center fielder.{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Dan |url=https://nypost.com/2019/07/01/yankees-expected-to-sign-stud-international-prospect-jasson-dominguez/ |title=Yankees expected to sign international prospect Jasson Dominguez |publisher=Nypost.com |date=July 2, 2019 |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183433/https://nypost.com/2019/07/01/yankees-expected-to-sign-stud-international-prospect-jasson-dominguez/ |url-status=live }} He is considered to be a five-tool player.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-guide |title=Jasson Dominguez guide |work=Mlb.com |date= |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184319/https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-guide |url-status=live }} During his training, someone referred to him as "El Marciano", Spanish for "the Martian", because his talent was not of this world.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27078114/the-legend-martian-yankees-5-million-16-year-old-international-coup|title=The legend of The Martian, the Yankees' $5 million, 16-year-old, international coup|authorlink=Jeff Passan|first=Jeff|last=Passan|date=July 1, 2019|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=July 5, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191117/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27078114/the-legend-martian-yankees-5-million-16-year-old-international-coup|url-status=live}} Several workout videos that he posted on social media went viral,{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-jasson-dominguez-is-huge |title=Yankees Jasson Dominguez is huge |work=Mlb.com |date= |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190733/https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-jasson-dominguez-is-huge |url-status=live }} earning him comparisons to Mickey Mantle, Bo Jackson, and Mike Trout.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/02/yankees-top-hitting-prospect-draws-comparison-to-mike-trout-mickey-mantle-bo-jackson.html|title=Yankees' top hitting prospect draws comparisons to Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle, Bo Jackson|first=Mike Rosenstein | NJ Advance Media for|last=NJ.com|date=February 21, 2020|work=NJ.com|accessdate=July 5, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184227/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/02/yankees-top-hitting-prospect-draws-comparison-to-mike-trout-mickey-mantle-bo-jackson.html|url-status=live}}

Baseball career

=Minor leagues=

File:Jasson Dominguez batting practice.jpg

MLB.com ranked Domínguez as the top prospect eligible to sign with an MLB team in the 2019–2020 international class.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2019 |title=MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch | MLB.com |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2013 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630134114/http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=int |url-status=live }} He signed with the Yankees for a franchise record $5.1 million signing bonus on July 2, 2019,{{Cite web |last=Caldera |first=Pete |date=July 2, 2019 |title=Too good to be true? That's what the Yankees wondered about Jasson Dominguez |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2019/07/02/new-york-yankees-sign-jasson-dominguez-16-year-old-sensation/1619749001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419120331/https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2019/07/02/new-york-yankees-sign-jasson-dominguez-16-year-old-sensation/1619749001/ |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=North Jersey Media Group |language=en-US}} receiving the majority of the Yankees' $5.4 million total allotment for international signings for the year.{{Cite news |last=Wagner |first=James |date=July 2, 2019 |title='This One Was Worth It': Yankees Set Record With Jasson Dominguez Signing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/sports/jasson-dominguez-yankees.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709233512/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/sports/jasson-dominguez-yankees.html |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Dan |url=https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/yankees-going-all-in-with-jaw-dropping-jasson-dominguez/ |title=Yankees going all in with prospect Jasson Dominguez |publisher=Nypost.com |date=July 2, 2019 |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184418/https://nypost.com/2019/07/02/yankees-going-all-in-with-jaw-dropping-jasson-dominguez/ |url-status=live }} He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league baseball season resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and instead trained at a baseball academy in Santiago.{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Dan |url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/yankees-deprived-of-watching-5-million-phenom-jasson-dominguez/ |title=Yankees deprived of watching $5 million phenom Jasson Dominguez |publisher=Nypost.com |date=May 30, 2020 |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190947/https://nypost.com/2020/05/30/yankees-deprived-of-watching-5-million-phenom-jasson-dominguez/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-prospect-jasson-dominguez-unfazed |title=Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez unfazed |first=Jesse |last=Sanchez |work=MLB.com |date=February 7, 2021 |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=August 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806101417/https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-prospect-jasson-dominguez-unfazed |url-status=live }}

Domínguez began the 2021 season in extended spring training.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/06/yankees-hoping-hype-fuels-jasson-dominguez-whose-career-is-finally-underway.html|title=Yankees hoping hype fuels Jasson Dominguez, whose career is finally underway|date=June 29, 2021|first=Randy|last=Miller|publisher=NJ Advance Media|website=NJ.com|accessdate=September 2, 2023|archive-date=September 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909002005/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/06/yankees-hoping-hype-fuels-jasson-dominguez-whose-career-is-finally-underway.html|url-status=live}} In June, he made his professional baseball debut with the Florida Complex League Yankees of the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. He was selected to represent the Yankees in the 2021 All-Star Futures Game. Domínguez became the first prospect to appear in the All-Star Futures Game without having played a full-season in the minor league.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-futures-game-for-yankees-top-prospect |title=Jasson Dominguez Futures Game for Yankees top prospect |first=Jonathan |last=Mayo |work=MLB.com |date=June 29, 2021 |accessdate=July 6, 2021 |archive-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702064116/https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-futures-game-for-yankees-top-prospect |url-status=live }} The Yankees promoted Domínguez to the Tampa Tarpons of the Low-A Southeast League after the Futures Game; he had batted 4-for-20 (.200) with six strikeouts and six walks in the Florida Complex League.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/07/yankees-promote-jasson-dominguez-who-hopes-to-be-in-majors-in-3-to-4-years.html|title=Yankees promote Jasson Dominguez, who hopes to be in majors in '3 to 4 years'|first=Randy|last=Miller|publisher=NJ Advance Media|website=NJ.com|date=July 13, 2021|accessdate=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713193341/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/07/yankees-promote-jasson-dominguez-who-hopes-to-be-in-majors-in-3-to-4-years.html|url-status=live}} Domínguez batted .258 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in (RBIs) in 49 games played.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-exceeding-yankees-expectations|title='He's an anomaly': Dominguez turning heads|first=Bryan|last=Hoch|work=MLB.com|date=January 13, 2022|accessdate=May 12, 2022|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513055414/https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-exceeding-yankees-expectations|url-status=live}}

Domínguez began the 2022 season with Tampa.{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/04/takeaways-on-yankees-minor-league-rosters-latest-on-jasson-dominguez-anthony-volpe-anthony-seigler-more.html |title=Takeaways on Yankees' minor-league rosters: Latest on Jasson Dominguez, Anthony Volpe, Anthony Seigler, more |first=Randy |last=Miller |publisher=NJ Advance Media |website=NJ.com |date=April 5, 2022 |accessdate=May 13, 2022 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513055414/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/04/takeaways-on-yankees-minor-league-rosters-latest-on-jasson-dominguez-anthony-volpe-anthony-seigler-more.html |url-status=live }} He appeared in the 2022 All-Star Futures Game, and was then promoted to the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League.{{cite web |last=Goodman |first=Max |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/new-york-top-prospect-jasson-dominguez-home-run-all-star-futures-game-promotion-high-a-hudson-valley |title=New York Yankees Prospect Jasson Dominguez Crushes Home Run in 2022 All-Star Futures Game - Sports Illustrated NY Yankees News, Analysis and More |publisher=Si.com |date=July 16, 2022 |accessdate=August 1, 2022 |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726173233/https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/new-york-top-prospect-jasson-dominguez-home-run-all-star-futures-game-promotion-high-a-hudson-valley |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/07/yankees-jasson-dominguez-homers-puts-on-show-in-high-a-hudson-valley-renegades-debut.html |title=Yankees' Jasson Dominguez homers, puts on show in High-A Hudson Valley Renegades debut |first=Randy |last=Miller |publisher=NJ Advance Media |website=NJ.com |date=July 23, 2022 |accessdate=August 1, 2022 |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726173233/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/07/yankees-jasson-dominguez-homers-puts-on-show-in-high-a-hudson-valley-renegades-debut.html |url-status=live }} When Hudson Valley's season ended, the Yankees promoted Domínguez to the Somerset Patriots of the Double-A Eastern League for their last few regular season games and their postseason.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/somerset/news/yankees-promote-jasson-dominguez-and-tyler-hardman-to-double-a-somerset|title=Yankees Promote Jasson Dominguez and Tyler Hardman to Double-A Somerset|date=September 13, 2022|work=MiLB.com|accessdate=September 2, 2023|archive-date=October 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005191200/https://www.milb.com/somerset/news/yankees-promote-jasson-dominguez-and-tyler-hardman-to-double-a-somerset|url-status=live}}

In 2023, the Yankees invited Domínguez to spring training as a non-roster player{{Cite web |last=Svoboda |first=Dylan |date=February 25, 2023 |title=Jasson Dominguez homers in spring training debut for Yankees |url=https://nypost.com/2023/02/25/jasson-dominguez-homers-in-spring-training-debut-for-yankees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227032121/https://nypost.com/2023/02/25/jasson-dominguez-homers-in-spring-training-debut-for-yankees/amp/ |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=New York Post}} and assigned him to Somerset to begin the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/2023/04/07/new-york-yankees-jasson-dominguez-martian-somerset-patriots/70092064007/|title=How Yankees mega-prospect Jasson Dominguez is impressing before the Somerset season starts|first=Mike|last=Ashmore|work=My Central Jersey|date=April 7, 2023|accessdate=June 6, 2023|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601094155/https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/2023/04/07/new-york-yankees-jasson-dominguez-martian-somerset-patriots/70092064007/|url-status=live}} The Yankees promoted him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League on August 22.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-everson-pereira-oswald-peraza-jasson-dominguez-austin-wells-prospects-mlb-20230822-etl72ypygrdxrfnx7hkgjeaqaa-story.html|title=With Everson Pereira in the majors, other Yankees prospects await their opportunity|first=Gary|last=Phillips|work=New York Daily News|date=August 22, 2023|accessdate=August 30, 2023|archive-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829192410/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-everson-pereira-oswald-peraza-jasson-dominguez-austin-wells-prospects-mlb-20230822-etl72ypygrdxrfnx7hkgjeaqaa-story.html|url-status=live}} After the season, he won the Eastern League Top MLB Prospect Award.{{cite web|last=Trezza|first=Joe|url=https://www.milb.com/news/double-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023|title=The 2023 Double-A All-Stars and Award Winners|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 26, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926201452/https://www.milb.com/news/double-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-for-2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023}}

=New York Yankees=

On September 1, 2023, the Yankees promoted Domínguez to the major leagues.{{Cite web |first=Randy |last=Miller |publisher=NJ Advance Media |website=NJ.com |date=September 1, 2023 |title=How Jasson Dominguez wowed Yankees and handled hype to earn 1st call-up at age 20 |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/09/how-jasson-dominguez-wowed-yankees-and-handled-hype-to-earn-1st-call-up-at-age-20.html |access-date=September 2, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901164516/https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/09/how-jasson-dominguez-wowed-yankees-and-handled-hype-to-earn-1st-call-up-at-age-20.html |url-status=live}} He made his major league debut that day against the Houston Astros and hit a home run off the first swing in his first at bat against Justin Verlander. With that home run, Domínguez became the youngest player in team history to hit a home run in his major league debut and surpassed Whitey Lockman as the youngest in MLB history to do so in their first plate appearance.{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Jasson Domínguez becomes youngest Yankee to homer in first at-bat |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38309218/jasson-dominguez-becomes-youngest-yankee-homer-first-bat |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902021519/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38309218/jasson-dominguez-becomes-youngest-yankee-homer-first-bat |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}} He hit four home runs in eight games.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2023 |title=Injuries & Moves: Florial up with Domínguez on IL |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-injuries-and-roster-moves |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=MLB.com |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908171720/https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-injuries-and-roster-moves |url-status=live}} On September 10, Domínguez was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery. Prior to his injury, he batted 8-for-31 (.258) with four home runs in eight games.{{Cite web |last=Hoch |first=Bryan |date=September 10, 2023 |title=Domínguez out for season with torn UCL |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-jasson-dominguez-torn-ucl-elbow-ligament |access-date=September 10, 2023 |website=MLB.com |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912001127/https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-jasson-dominguez-torn-ucl-elbow-ligament |url-status=live}}

Domínguez began the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list to continue recovery from elbow surgery.{{cite web | last=Goodman | first=Max | title=Yankees' Jasson Domínguez close to playing in games, but how does he fit when healthy? | website=NJ.com| date=April 27, 2024 | url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/04/yankees-jasson-dominguez-close-to-playing-in-games-but-how-does-he-fit-when-healthy.html | access-date=August 21, 2024}} After a rehabilitation assignment began in May, the Yankees activated Domínguez from the injured list and optioned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on June 12.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Yankees Reinstate, Option Jasson Domínguez |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/yankees-reinstate-option-jasson-dominguez.html |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} However, on June 20, manager Aaron Boone announced that Domínguez would be out up to eight weeks after suffering a "pretty significant" oblique strain.{{cite web | last=Joyce | first=Greg | title=Jasson Dominguez out up two months as Yankees return crushed by new injury | website=New York Post | date=June 20, 2024 | url=https://nypost.com/2024/06/20/sports/yankees-jasson-dominguez-out-up-to-8-weeks-with-oblique-injury/ | access-date=August 22, 2024}} He returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 26.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-gm-explains-why-a-jasson-dominguez-call-up-is-unlikely-theres-currently-no-lane-for-us/|title=Yankees GM explains why a Jasson Domínguez call-up is unlikely: 'There's currently no lane for us'|date=August 11, 2024|website=CBSSports.com|access-date=September 19, 2024}}

On August 18, the Yankees selected Domínguez as their 27th man for the Little League Classic; he batted 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and returned to the RailRiders after the game.{{cite web | agency=Associated Press | title=Yanks promote Domínguez for Little League Classic | website=ESPN.com | date=August 18, 2024 | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40908024/yankees-call-jasson-dominguez-little-league-classic | access-date=August 22, 2024}} On September 9, the Yankees promoted Domínguez to the major league roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jasson-dominguez-called-up-by-yankees|title=The Martian is back! Yanks call up top prospect Domínguez|website=MLB.com|access-date=September 19, 2024}} He batted .179 in 56 at bats and struggled defensively as a left fielder.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5951295/2024/11/29/yankees-jasson-dominguez-left-field/|title=Jasson Dominguez's offseason plan aligns with Yankees' Juan Soto pursuit|first=Brendan|last=Kuty|work=The Athletic|publisher=The New York Times|date=November 29, 2024|accessdate=February 9, 2025}}