Yankees $5.1 Million Rookie 'Officially' Worst Outfielder in MLB: Analyst

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JON VANKIN is a journalist and writer. He is the author of five nonfiction books and nine graphic novels. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Salon, the L.A. Weekly and dozens of other publications and he has received numerous awards and honors including three New England Press Association awards.

In connection with his work, Vankin has made numerous media appearances on such networks as CNN, CNBC, FOX, the BBC and the CBC as well as hundreds of radio stations and podcasts.

Vankin in his wide-ranging career has also served as an editor of comic books and newspapers. He is the editor of the NEW YORK TIMES #1 BESTSELLING graphic novel GET JIRO! by the late, great Anthony Bourdain. He co-wrote the hit Off Broadway musical FOREVER DUSTY, and served as a sportswriter and editor at The Daily Yomiuri, the English-language edition of Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun, in Tokyo.

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The New York Yankees signed Jasson Dominguez out of the Dominican Republic in July 2019. He was just 16 years old, but expectations were already sky high for the youthful prospect.

"You look at tools, athleticism, makeup, performance as an amateur — and the analytical data backed up everything," Yankees international scouting director Donny Rowland told the New York Post. "He checked every box."

MLB Pipeline ranked Dominguez as the No. 1 international prospect of 2019.

New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Jasson Domínguez #24 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 10,... Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

So impressed were the Yankees that they handed Dominguez — who would soon be nicknamed "The Martian" due to his "otherworldly" baseball talent — a franchise-record $5.1 million signing bonus.

Now, six years later, Dominguez is just 22 years old and in his first full MLB season — with his rookie status intact. As a hitter, he has largely delivered on his promise.

With five home runs and a 117 OPS+ (meaning Dominguez has performed 17 percent better than the average hitter), the rookie has been a solid contributor to a Yankees offense that has pushed 5.78 runs per game across the plate, marginally behind the MLB-leading Los Angeles Dodgers at 5.79.

More MLB: Yankees $5.1 Million Rookie Outfielder Called 'Maybe Worst Defender of All Time'

His defense, however, has been another story. In fact, as a left fielder Dominguez has been disastrous. His defensive runs saved number, according to Fangraphs, ranks worst among all American League left fielders at minus-3, and fourth-worst in the majors.

The defensive struggles endured by the Yankees rookie led the "Made the Cut" podcast — a program that takes analytical "deep dives" into various aspects of baseball — to label Dominguez, "Officially ... the worst defensive outfielder in MLB."

"He's tied for dead last among all major league outfielders with at least 200 innings played right now in fielding run value at -4," the "Made the Cut" program said. "Outs above average at -5, and success rate added at 8 percent. The thing I didn't mention however is that he's the only outfielder to be tied for dead last in all three."

The podcast added that Dominguez currently ranks below other star players who are notoriously weak outfielders, Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernandez. But the rookie possesses sprint speed in the 77th percentile, and due to that factor alone, he may be able to pass Hernandez and Soto later in the season.

"Even if he does manage to do so, as soon as by the end of 2025, this won't change the fact that up until now he has been Major League Baseball's worst defensive outfielder," according to "Made the Cut."

On the offensive side, Dominiguez finds himself in a mini-slump heading into Monday's action, which just three hits in his last 20 at-bats.

More MLB: Yankees Near 'Breaking Point' With Rookie Outfielder After Miscues

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About the writer

JON VANKIN is a journalist and writer. He is the author of five nonfiction books and nine graphic novels. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Salon, the L.A. Weekly and dozens of other publications and he has received numerous awards and honors including three New England Press Association awards.

In connection with his work, Vankin has made numerous media appearances on such networks as CNN, CNBC, FOX, the BBC and the CBC as well as hundreds of radio stations and podcasts.

Vankin in his wide-ranging career has also served as an editor of comic books and newspapers. He is the editor of the NEW YORK TIMES #1 BESTSELLING graphic novel GET JIRO! by the late, great Anthony Bourdain. He co-wrote the hit Off Broadway musical FOREVER DUSTY, and served as a sportswriter and editor at The Daily Yomiuri, the English-language edition of Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri Shimbun, in Tokyo.

Writers Page

JON VANKIN is a journalist and writer. He is the author of five nonfiction books and nine graphic novels. His ... Read more