Jasson Domínguez is considerably used to creating historical past at this level. It’s simply his M.O., and probably even part of his DNA. However typically, even he can shock himself.
When a towering shot from the 22-year-old Dominican left fielder cleared the center-field wall at Sutter Well being Park in West Sacramento, Calif., on Might 9, it marked Domínguez’s third house run of the sport — this one a grand slam — in a 10-2 victory over the Athletics. However it additionally added numerous historic feats to the resume of the younger man often known as “The Martian.”
“Once I hit the third one, I used to be telling myself, ‘No method. There’s no method,’” Domínguez mentioned after the sport.
The opening salvo of an evening he described as “particular” got here within the prime of the third inning in opposition to an Athletics workforce that had no concept what was nonetheless to return because the ball flew out to proper area.
The second shot? An off-the-cuff house run to left-center.
The third homer, the grand slam, made him the primary Yankee since Aaron Hicks in 2018 to have a three-home run sport that included bombs from either side of the plate.
That blast additionally made Domínguez the youngest Yankee ever to hit three house runs in a sport at 22 years, 91 days, surpassing Joe DiMaggio — who set the mark in 1937 — by 109 days.
That night time was one to recollect for the switch-hitter at first of a month of house run excellence by no means earlier than seen in Main League Baseball.
Lower than two weeks later, Domínguez crushed a homer into Yankee Stadium’s second deck to stroll off a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers, changing into the primary participant in MLB historical past to hit three homers in a sport, homer from either side of the plate in a sport, hit a grand slam and hit a walk-off homer all in the identical calendar month, in keeping with OptaSTATS.
“It’s superior,” Domínguez says, standing in entrance of his locker with a large grin on his face. “It’s unimaginable. I feel I’ve by no means had a grand slam in my profession, positively by no means a walk-off, so doing all of that in a single month may be very particular.”
Historical past is changing into his factor. This is identical man that signed for $5.1 million at simply 16 years previous, nonetheless the Yankees file for an novice worldwide free agent.
So perhaps it shouldn’t be a shock to see all that potential that earned Domínguez a lot consideration over the previous six years beginning to come to fruition.
Domínguez’s rookie season has been lengthy anticipated, however that is certainly not the start of his story. A participant who gained legendary standing as a attainable unicorn upon signing, he solely added to the parable when he obtained his first style of the bigs again in 2023.
His first MLB swing resulted in a house run off seemingly Corridor of Famer Justin Verlander in September of that 12 months.
Domínguez proceeded so as to add three extra homers in his subsequent seven video games.
Name it a preview of issues to return.
Sadly, Yankees followers must wait some time longer to see extra of Domínguez’s feats, as simply 10 days after that debut, a UCL tear would power him to bear Tommy John surgical procedure and trigger him to overlook a big early chunk of the 2024 season.
However even when he was rehabbing within the Minors in 2024, Domínguez didn’t miss a beat. Between stops at Single-A Tampa, Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Domínguez would see 58 video games of motion. Over that stretch, he posted a .314 batting common with 11 house runs and 35 RBIs.
A return to the large membership got here late final 12 months, and a spot on the postseason roster and transient cameos within the American League Championship Collection and World Collection as a pinch-runner would foreshadow an vital spot on the 2025 roster, as Domínguez broke Spring Coaching camp because the workforce’s common left fielder.
This season, highlighted by history-making accolades, has additionally had its challenges, however Domínguez has been heading in the right direction as he navigates his rookie 12 months.
“Up to now, I feel it’s going properly,” Domínguez says. “I’ve had moments the place there have been a variety of ups and downs, however that is what the sport is — a variety of ups and downs. I feel the most important factor was engaged on my protection. However generally, I’m simply attempting to get higher.”
Having spent the majority of his time within the Minors enjoying heart area, Domínguez has been getting the hold of left area, sharing the place with veteran Cody Bellinger.
What has helped Domínguez navigate the problem has been a tight-knit clubhouse that has made the rookie really feel proper at house.
“I’d like to say one teammate [has helped me], however we’ve obtained a very good clubhouse,” he says. “All of my teammates are nice and really approachable. You possibly can discuss with anybody in right here. You possibly can ask no matter you need to the most important guys, like [Aaron] Choose, Goldie [Paul Goldschmidt], Belli [Bellinger]. This complete clubhouse is de facto particular.”
The outcomes have been obvious. Domínguez entered the second sport of a June sequence in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals hitting .246, simply above the league common of .244. Together with that stable mark, Domínguez had six house runs, with 25 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 179 at-bats.
Domínguez has shined hitting out of the No. 5 gap within the Yankees’ batting order. In 51 at-bats out of that spot, he was batting .314 with 16 hits, three doubles, 4 house runs and an OPS of 1.011 by means of June 10.
Whereas not the most important pattern dimension, there may be clearly a consolation zone there at No. 5. However the place Domínguez’s true power lies is in his capacity to do injury from either side of the plate, particularly from the left.
Swap-hitters all through historical past have been a few of the most particular gamers to play the sport. The Yankees themselves depend arguably the best switch-hitter of all of them as considered one of their very own in Mickey Mantle.
However what could make a switch-hitter actually particular is the power to offer not solely hits from either side of the plate, but additionally energy.
It’s a capability Domínguez has flashed. One of many three house runs that Might night time in West Sacramento was a blast from the precise aspect, whereas the opposite two got here from the left, impressing the Yankees’ skipper within the course of.
“One from the precise aspect, two from the left aspect, that clearly doesn’t occur that always,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned after the victory. “It normally takes a fairly proficient participant to do one thing like that.”
Proficient and gifted, as Yankees hitting coach James Rowson factors out.
“This man has an opportunity to do particular issues from either side,” Rowson says. “His left aspect has been nice, and the changes he’s comprised of the precise aspect getting extra at-bats and seeing issues. … He’s obtained energy from either side, so he can legitimately damage you from both aspect of the plate, and I feel that’s a power.”
Domínguez has been working to enhance on the precise aspect, exhibiting occasional indicators of development within the course of. However whereas he was batting simply .183 as a right-hander in opposition to lefty pitchers by means of June 11, the 22-year-old says he’s targeted on enhancing every day.
“I’m attempting to make the changes that it’s a must to do,” Domínguez says. “It is a powerful league, and it’s a must to make changes. It’s important to undergo some issues, and I feel that’s simply the primary factor. I’m attempting to maintain myself wholesome and make these changes to have success.”
What has helped alongside the best way has been a optimistic angle. Rowson says Domínguez is targeted and hardworking. It’s important to be in a league that may throw something and the whole lot at you, particularly if you find yourself a rookie.
“This goes again to final season and coming into this season within the spring: I like the place he’s at,” Rowson says. “This child involves the ballpark each day with a fantastic angle. He’s obtained expertise which are unmatched — he’s a very proficient participant, and now he’s simply beginning to get comfy, getting constant enjoying time up right here, and I feel we’re beginning to see who he actually is. This man is a particular participant.”
The left aspect has been the place Domínguez has carried out most of his injury. In 139 plate appearances by means of 48 video games, 119 of Domínguez’s at-bats had come as a left-handed batter versus right-handed pitchers. The outcomes: a .277 batting common, 5 of his six house runs, 19 RBIs and 18 walks.
Rowson says that as Domínguez features expertise, the right-side success will come. And success generally will observe because the left fielder will get extra enjoying time transferring ahead.
Expertise in opposition to large league pitchers, Rowson says, is particularly vital in Domínguez’s improvement.
“The largest factor while you’re speaking about on the sphere is simply expertise,” Rowson says. “It’s a truth that you simply’ve obtained to be taught various kinds of pitchers and the way they’re going to pitch you alternative ways. You’ve obtained to be taught sport conditions. I feel you be taught these from persistently getting at-bats. I feel this 12 months, he’s gotten an opportunity to get at-bats persistently, and he’s made nice changes, however the largest adjustment is all the time how guys are going to pitch you and to begin to get a really feel for various pitchers.
“At this stage, you’re seeing totally different guys each day. The extra you see them, the extra you get used to them, the higher you do.”
One factor that Rowson notices is that Domínguez is hard to get out with the identical technique.
“He sees the way you pitch him, he goes into that subsequent at-bat, he makes an adjustment,” Rowson says. “It’s a credit score to him as a younger participant. Jasson gained’t allow you to get him out the identical method. He’s going to make changes and going to proceed to try this all through his profession.”
Even when he struggles or has a setback, Domínguez retains a optimistic demeanor. Throughout a late-Might sequence at Dodger Stadium, he had an harm scare, jamming his thumb whereas sliding into second on a profitable stolen-base try, placing him out of the lineup for a pair days.
However speaking to him within the Yankees clubhouse, one would hardly discover he had any setbacks. Perhaps it was aid, however Domínguez would typically flash a smile as he ready to take the sphere for batting observe.
Domínguez is aware of the character of the sport at this level, and {that a} participant can’t get too caught up within the struggles.
“Once you’re going by means of a tough second, you’ve simply obtained to maintain working and discover a solution to get out of it,” Domínguez says. “Once you run right into a stoop or no matter it’s within the sport, you’ve simply obtained to maintain attempting. Should you hold attempting and dealing laborious, in some unspecified time in the future you’re going to get out of it.”
Whereas the elbow harm delayed the total launch of The Martian, Domínguez has so far navigated any well being setbacks. Consistency, he hopes, comes on the plate and along with his well being.
“My purpose for the remainder of the season is to attempt to hold myself wholesome and discover that consistency,” Domínguez says. “I would like to have the ability to assist the workforce in the easiest way attainable.”
Together with that three-homer, seven-RBI night time in opposition to the Athletics in Might, Domínguez has had video games the place he has put collectively stable outings.
In a June 25 efficiency at Cincinnati, the younger outfielder had a career-high 4 hits. The hope is for a lot of extra nights like that. In the end, the credit score, Domínguez says, goes to the teaching and teammates within the clubhouse.
From prime to backside, the group has been serving to him alongside the best way.
“These guys on this clubhouse have helped me rather a lot,” Domínguez says. “All the coaches and the blokes on this group actually care, and so they’re going that will help you. That’s an enormous factor for me and anybody within the group — good coaches, good teammates are the issues which have helped me probably the most.”
It may be straightforward to neglect that Domínguez is simply 22 years previous. Being within the Majors at this level is just not essentially widespread. That alone speaks to the expertise at hand.
Whereas the younger prospect went from a teenage signee to the younger man discovering his place within the Yankees lineup, he’s nonetheless that child at coronary heart that cares for the easy issues a 22-year-old does in his downtime.
“Between video games, when I’ve the time without work, if I can, I am going go to my household — they’re not too distant — perhaps keep house and go to eat, and I play video video games,” Domínguez says. “My favourite sport proper now’s Fortnite.”
To explain Fortnite is a labor in and of itself, largely as a result of it’s an all the time evolving sport that’s continuously altering.
To boil it — and a variety of “Battle Royale” on-line video games — all the way down to its core, it’s about competitors. It’s a sport the place gamers, typically in groups, are thrown into an enviornment and battle to be the final one standing.
It’s not too dissimilar from the large leagues. Every season begins with a bunch of groups all battling to be the final one standing on the mountaintop when it’s all mentioned and carried out.
So, even in his downtime, Domínguez nonetheless finds a solution to scratch that aggressive itch, as he credit gaming as one of many issues that obtained him by means of his harm.
“I’ve been enjoying Fortnite for some time,” Domínguez says. “When it first got here out, I began enjoying it throughout my harm. I performed it and fell in love with it. You play on-line, and also you’re competing each match. That’s what I like in regards to the sport.”
Whereas he should still have some youthful tendencies, Domínguez has come a good distance from being the extremely touted teenager with the file signing bonus and the out-of-this-world nickname. Because the season goes on, followers and opponents are lastly attending to see the expertise that was projected six years in the past.
Domínguez is simply taking it at some point at a time and absorbing all that he can in his rookie 12 months. He is aware of that arduous work will convey success. For now, he’s having fun with life as a Yankee.
“It’s an honor for me,” Domínguez says. “Once I first signed at 16 years previous, I didn’t know a lot actually in regards to the Yankees, simply that they’re the most effective workforce with probably the most championships. Once I obtained to the group and obtained to know all the folks, once I obtained to know all the historical past, it’s simply an honor for me to be a part of this group.”
Robert Hudson is a publications assistant with Yankees Journal. This story seems within the July 2025 version. Get extra articles like this delivered to the doorstep by buying a subscription to Yankees Journal at www.yankees.com/publications.
