Domínguez's day: 'Martian' turns into youngest Yankee with a 3-HR sport – MLB.com

Theo DeRosa
WEST SACRAMENTO — As he rounded the bases, even Jasson Domínguez couldn’t consider it. The younger Yankees outfielder had by no means even hit TWO residence runs in the identical Main League sport earlier than Friday night time, when his eighth-inning grand slam instantly turned a career-best night time into a very historic one.
"No means,” Domínguez informed himself as he made the trot in entrance of a speechless, sellout crowd at Sutter Well being Park. “There’s no means.”
There certain was a means, although. Not solely did Domínguez’s grand slam break issues open for the Yankees in Friday’s 10-2 win, however it made him — at 22 days, 91 years outdated — the youngest participant in franchise historical past with a three-homer sport. That mark was beforehand set by Joe DiMaggio (22 years, 200 days outdated) in 1937.
"Tonight was particular,” Domínguez mentioned. “A really particular night time that I’ll keep in mind.”
Even earlier than that fateful eighth, that was the case. The switch-hitting Domínguez went again to again with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in his first at-bat within the second inning, batting left-handed towards A’s starter Osvaldo Bido.
He homered once more as a right-hander towards lefty reliever Hogan Harris within the seventh earlier than switching again to the left facet within the eighth for his no-doubt slam.
Domínguez turned the primary Yankee since Aaron Hicks in 2018 with a three-homer sport that included homers from each side. He’s the third participant in MLB historical past to try this with a grand slam, a feat beforehand achieved by Invoice Mueller in 2003.
"One from the best facet, two from the left facet, that clearly doesn’t occur that usually,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned. “It normally takes a reasonably proficient participant to do one thing like that.”
Domínguez certain matches that description. Hyped as a big-time prospect since he was a youngster, he made his MLB debut at age 20 in 2023 and instantly delivered, socking 4 residence runs in his first seven video games.
However a torn UCL ended his promising rookie marketing campaign and sidelined him till August 2024. After hitting simply .179 in restricted motion that yr, Domínguez put in intensive work in the course of the offseason, honing his glove on the again fields and taking cuts within the batting cages throughout Spring Coaching.
His Yankees teammates, together with star outfielder Aaron Choose, definitely took discover.
“To see him have a sport like this tonight, three homers, it’s simply particular,” Choose mentioned. “I believe you see the joy of all people within the dugout on every homer.”
To Boone, Domínguez’s remaining dinger was the product of not simply the teenager’s expertise however the crew’s relentless method on the plate. From Trent Grisham’s leadoff stroll and Choose’s double within the first inning to a five-run eighth, the Yankees produced visitors on the basepaths in practically each body. They totaled 14 hits and walked six instances.
"It’s enjoyable to observe that after they’re all actually gritty, grindy at-bats, after which the dam breaks as a result of they’re actually good,” Boone mentioned. “Only a actually robust efficiency, and everybody performed a job, I really feel like. Physique blow, physique blow, physique blow after which increase.”
Domínguez delivered that increase for the Yankees. With a run residence already and the bases loaded within the eighth, he circled a 1-2 sinker at 97.6 mph from A’s reliever Elvis Alvarado — who was making his Main League debut — and parked it within the guests’ bullpen in right-center, the place the baseball bounced as soon as and located its approach to a Yankees fan on the outfield berm.
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The grand slam capped an evening in contrast to any Domínguez had ever had — besides “on the PlayStation,” the place (enjoying as himself) the younger slugger is outwardly no stranger to three-homer video games.
Not even a strong exhibiting in pregame batting observe hinted on the sport Domínguez was about to ship.
A historic night time for the person from Mars.@gonjass7 🛸 pic.twitter.com/59ssQnXNig
"I felt good, however I didn’t really feel like I might have a day like this,” he mentioned.
For the Yankees, it’s laborious to not image extra days like this on the horizon. Domínguez has now began 31 of the crew’s 38 video games, and after Friday’s outburst, he now has 5 homers and an .802 OPS.
If he’s capable of keep a spot within the lineup, one other three-homer sport may not be such a shock.
"He simply must play,” Boone mentioned. “It’s simply the expertise with him. He’s so proficient.”

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