BEYOND THE TOOLS
It’s easy to be captivated by 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Jasson Dominguez.
He looks like a running back with a dense, muscular build, like a shorter version of Yoan Moncada with comparable tools. And those tools are phenomenal. He has a blend of power, speed and arm strength that all earn plus or better grades. He’s an explosive, quick-burst athlete who plays a premium position in center field.
Those tools helped Dominguez earn a $5.1 million bonus from the Yankees when they signed him on July 2. His bonus tied with Athletics shortstop Robert Puason for the largest of the current international signing period. Both hail from the Dominican Republic.
“He’s possibly the best combination of tools, athleticism and performance that I’ve run across,” Yankees international scouting director Donny Rowland said. “Now, there’s a whole lot of time, a whole lot of at-bats and a whole lot of proving it between now and hopefully reaching the major leagues. Given his baseball background, his baseball acumen, his desire, his competitive nature, his work ethic, it’s never an easy thing to drop $5.1 million on one player, but he made it pretty easy.”
It’s easy
