Why Winter Ball Will Benefit Yankees Top Prospect
The Caribbean winter leagues have long been a breeding ground for Major League talent. For over 80 years, they’ve offered top-tier competition in warm climates, giving prospects a chance to sharpen their skills and veterans a way to stay game-ready. MLB stars from Willie Mays to Don Mattingly have benefited from playing winter ball and improved as a result. This winter, the New York Yankees are tapping into that tradition by sending their top prospect, Jasson Dominguez, to the Dominican Republic.
Dominguez will join Leones del Escogido, the reigning champions, under the guidance of Tony Peña, a respected former MLB catcher and bench coach for the Yankees’ 2009 World Series team. After a season of limited playing time due to inconsistent left field performance, Dominguez needs reps. The Dominican league offers just that, with a talent pool that includes over 140 Dominican-born MLB players and many more on the rise. Pena is a teacher and will get the most out of Jasson, something Aaron Boone and his staff never could.
Dominguez’s 2025 campaign was quietly productive. In 123 games, he hit .257 with 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, while posting a .719 OPS. These numbers are especially notable given his sporadic usage down the stretch—he logged just a handful of plate appearances in the final weeks of the regular season. He no longer had a role on this team despite the numbers as the Yankees continued to show Dominguez no favor while Anthony Volpe continued to be protected.
His postseason was nonexistent until he was brought up to pinch-hit for Volpe in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ final game. This was a moment full of irony as many felt this move was made more to save Volpe the negative response he would surely have received for the horrible postseason he produced. Jasson proceeded to deliver a double to right-center off Jeff Hoffman, finishing the playoffs with a perfect 1.000 batting average in his lone at-bat. It was a flash of his raw talent and composure under pressure. These stats underscore why the Yankees are investing in his development this winter. Despite inconsistent playing time, Dominguez showed flashes of power, speed, and plate discipline. His switch-hitting profile remains intriguing, though his left-handed swing has been more consistent than his right
At just 22, Dominguez-nicknamed “The Martian” for his out-of-this-world potential, has yet to fully tap into his talent. Peña’s mentorship and the league’s high-level competition could be the perfect formula for growth. But make no mistake—this winter stint is more than developmental. The Yankees are grooming top outfield prospect Spencer Jones and with him knocking on the door, this may be Dominguez’s last best chance to prove he can handle the defensive demands of left field in New York. If all goes well, he’ll return in 2026 sharper, more polished, and ready to stake his claim for a starting position.
