Yankees agree to record-breaking contract with top prospect Jasson Dominguez

After months of speculation, the Yankees finally reached an agreement with Jasson Dominguez. Jesse Sanchez says the club will give the 16-year-old a deal in the area of $5 million, a record-breaking sum for an international amateur free agent. The lofty payday fits with Dominguez’s reputation; he’s the top talent in this year’s class and arguably the most well regarded international prospect in history.

The switch-hitting center fielder from the Dominican Republic is the consensus crown jewel of the signing period. Scouts and evaluators have nothing but great things to say about Dominguez. Consider this excerpt from Kiley McDaniel and Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs:

Dominguez runs the 60-yard dash in anywhere from 6.19 to 6.30 seconds, and is a 70 or 80 runner depending on whom you ask. His frame (5-foot-11, 194 pounds, sculpted like a Greek god), easy plus arm, and quick feet are catching-friendly, and scouts that have seem him try the position say he could probably do it full-time, but it sounds like most evaluators (and likely the Yankees) will develop him in center field to let his bat move more quickly. Some scouts think Dominguez’s hands could work in the infield, but he has very few reps there.

For context on his bat, I refer you to Jeff Passan’s story on the one they call The Martian. In it, Dominguez draws comps to Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle.

Here’s a look at Dominguez in action:

One would expect Dominguez to leap into the Yankees’ top prospects list. He’s already a fringe top 100 candidate at 16 years old.

For more information on all of the Yankees’ international free agent signings, check back on Pinstripe Alley’s updated tracker.