TAMPA, Fla. — For the much-maligned Yankee farm system, this spring is the best of times and the worst of times.
The best of times is Jasson Dominguez, the young switch-hitting phenom center fielder, who is living up to all the accompanying hype from when the Yankees signed him for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic as the No. 1 rated international prospect in 2019. As of Friday, Dominguez was 7 for 16 with three homers, seven RBIs and a 1.526 OPS in Grapefruit League play as the cries of “Martian” (his colorful and appropriate nickname for his “out-of-this-world” five-tool talent) have been resonating through the stands of George M. Steinbrenner Field. He added a fourth home run Saturday.
More best of times has been the emergence of Jersey-bred fan favorite Anthony Volpe from longshot in the shortstop sweepstakes to the frontrunner in the early going of spring.
