2023 Spring Training Game Threads

www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/the-yankees-have-a-big-infield-decision-to-make-with-top-prospect-stealing-the-show/ar-AA17XPrj?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=b2862b1958dc4d9d8f95e4fa4f22603b&ei=10

The Yankees have a big infield decision to make with top prospect stealing the show

...Volpe left a noticeable impression on the game, recording two hits over for four at-bats, tallying two runs and two stolen bases. It couldn’t have been a better day for Volpe, who showcased his athleticism around the bases and displayed fantastic contact-hitting qualities along with tremendous power.

...If Volpe can get on base at a sizable clip and hit for contact in front of Aaron Judge, he could be a phenomenal addition to the team this season. Despite his impressive performance, most still expect him to start the 2023 campaign with Triple-A Scranton, but he may put a lot of pressure on Boone to make him a major leaguer prematurely.

...Dominguez’s HR touched 109.7 mph off the bat, posting a ground ball that reached 102.7 mph in exit velocity. His unbelievable power should not go unnoticed. Considering he’s already hitting against Major League talent, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him jump to Triple-A early during the 2023 season.

“He’s talented,” Boone said. “Just good, quality at-bats. You could tell the guy has a real understanding and an ease of the strike zone. There’s no panic up there. It was good to see him really get into one.”

Seeing the type of contact that Dominguez made, paired with patience in the batter’s box, you can clearly see his maturity developing. The amount of confidence he holds certainly bodes well for his future since he also has the tangible and physical traits to be a phenom.

“I think the really exciting things, when you start to dive into his quality of contact, his chase percentages, walk and strikeout rates, all those kind of things, he got better as he went up and as the competition got better,” Boone said. “So that was something from last year that was really encouraging for him.

Obviously getting a full, normal year in where you get a nice volume of at-bats, that’s that experience that starts to become so valuable as you move up. I think even more than the raw numbers, the underlying things that we saw from him as he went level to level were really encouraging.”

The 20-year-old prospect dominated with Hudson Valley and A+ last year, hitting .306 with a .397 OBP, six homers, and 22 RBIs with 17 stolen bases. He only played in five games with Somerset, hitting .105 with a .227 OBP, but he recorded a home run and began the transition process.

One way or another, Dominguez is going to fly up the farm system and eventually join the MLB team, but I wouldn’t expect him to reach the highest level until 2024 when the Yankees need a new centerfielder, given they let Harrison Bader walk in free agency.