MLB: Jason Dominguez returns with a home run in his Majors debut

Young New York Yankees star Jason Dominuez is back through the front door.

The man nicknamed “The Martian” hit a home run in his first at-bat in the Majors off Houston Astros outfielder Justin Verlander. The Yankees capitalized on the brilliance of their rookie to win, 6-2.

Dominguez batted fifth in the lineup, an accomplished hitter, and hit Verlander’s fastball into the left field stands to make it 3-0 in favor of the Yankees with a two-run homer.

At 20 years and 206 days old, he became the youngest player in franchise history to hit a long ball in his MLB debut.

In the fifth inning, it was Aaron Judge’s turn to once again write his name in the MLB record books.

Judge threw Verlander’s shot to center field to give the Yankees a four-run lead. This solo home run was far from the norm, as it was the 250th of a Bronx Bombers baseball player’s career.

He played his 810th career game, becoming the fastest in major league history to reach that point. Ryan Howard held the previous record, having hit 250 long balls in 855 matches.

Dominguez, a prodigy from his teenage years

The outfielder signed with the Yankees in 2019 when he was 16 years old. He is the first New York player to hit a home run in his first MLB game since Judge and Tyler Austin, who accomplished the feat in the same game on August 13, 2016.

Dominguez was the youngest player to play a match for the team since José Rijo, aged 19, in July 1984. He was also the youngest player in his position since Stan Javier, aged 20, in April 1984.

The Dominican has played just nine games with the AAA farm club this season, in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He had a .419 batting average, with two doubles and 10 RBIs. He previously hit .254 with 15 homers and 66 RBIs in 109 games at the AA level.

Before the game, the Yankees coach recalled the determination and confidence Dominguez had as a 16-year-old, when he watched him take batting practice at the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic, 2019.

“From that age, he had your attention,” Boone said. You’ve seen all the assets this 16 year old already has. He had this kind of easy smile and behaved very well. »

“When I heard the news, it was really special,” Dominguez said in Spanish through a translator. Just being here today is really exciting. I’m happy to be there, and this is a special day. »