Yankees' Jasson Dominguez 'living up to the hype'
New York Yankees Outfielder Jasson Dominguez (89) drives the pitch over the fence for a home run during the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on February 25, 2023 at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Credit: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images/Icon Sportswire
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Kyle Higashioka, dressed and ready to head back to Tampa and, soon after that, to Arizona to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, caught a glance of the TV in the clubhouse.
As he watched Jasson Dominguez circle the bases after a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 10-6 victory over Atlanta, Higashioka invoked the 20-year-old’s nickname to no one in particular.
“The Martian!” Higashioka said emphatically. “He’s living up to the hype!”
Dominguez, whose blast gave the Yankees an 8-6 lead, certainly has done that in his first spring training with the big-league club.
The centerfielder — the Yankees’ top outfield prospect — went 1-for-2 Sunday, making him 5-for-12 with two homers and a 1.417 OPS in six Grapefruit League games.
“As I’ve said, it just looks like the game moves slow to him when he’s in the box,” Aaron Boone said afterward. “He’s just got such a good command of the strike zone.”
Kahnle sidelined
Tommy Kahnle, signed to a two-year, $11.5 million contract in the offseason, won’t throw for at least a week after being diagnosed with biceps tendinitis, Boone said. Counting Sunday, Kahnle was in the third day of the 10-day prognosis of not throwing.
Will the righthanded reliever be ready for Opening Day on March 30? “I think so,” Boone said. “[But] we’ll be careful about not rushing.”
Trio headed to WBC
Higashioka wasn’t the only Yankee departing for the WBC on Sunday. Second baseman Gleyber Torres is set to join Venezuela and reliever Jonathan Loaisiga is slated to pitch for Nicaragua.
“Really excited,” said Torres, who is 4-for-13 (.308) with a homer and a double in five games. “It’s an honor to represent my country and a huge opportunity for myself and all of the players representing Venezuela to put on a really good show and maybe we can get the trophy for our country.”
Higashioka said playing for Team USA will be the fulfillment of a long-standing goal.
“Just the experience and the opportunity to represent my country, that’s always kind of been a dream of mine to represent USA,” he said. “I didn’t really think it was in the cards, but when they offered me a spot, with the blessing of the team [the Yankees], I graciously accepted.”
Power display
The Yankees also got home runs from Oswaldo Cabrera, who started at third base and appears a near-lock to make the club out of camp as a utilityman, and Jamie Westbrook, a non-roster invitee.
Cabrera should have been charged with a throwing error in the first on a leadoff grounder by Ronald Acuna Jr. but otherwise has enjoyed a standout spring training. He is 5-for-17 (.294) with two homers, seven RBIs and a .980 OPS in seven games.
