BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Manager Raul Domínguez, now in his third year with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, was enjoying a relaxed moment in the dugout, dressed in workout attire. With a strategic move, he set a later report time for his players, a decision that proved wise as the temperature soared to a scorching 94 degrees at TD Bank Ballpark for the day’s first pitch. As the atmosphere remained mostly quiet, Domínguez took the opportunity to reflect on the recent performances of several promising New York Yankees prospects under his guidance.
In the past two weeks, center fielder Spencer Jones has showcased the talent that the Yankees envisioned when they selected him in the first round from Vanderbilt in 2022. As of Thursday, Jones boasted an impressive batting average of .432, with six home runs, 12 RBIs, and a remarkable 1.406 OPS over his last 12 games. His strikeout rate has notably improved, dropping to 29.5 percent with 13 strikeouts in 44 at-bats, a significant decrease from the 44.4 percent strikeout rate he experienced in the first 36 games of the season.
Domínguez noted that the Yankees’ internal statistics indicate that Jones has been making more informed swing decisions recently. “Yeah, we can see that improve,” said the manager. “The goal is just to see Spencer Jones stay consistent.” This season, Jones has adopted a wider stance with his hands positioned further from his body, which seems to be paying off. After missing approximately three weeks in May due to an intercostal injury, Domínguez believes Jones is now comfortable with his new swing. “With the results he’s getting, he’s got to keep going with it,” he added.
Overall, heading into Thursday’s game, Jones held a batting average of .271, with 16 homers, 31 RBIs, and an OPS of .989 in 48 Double-A games. Highly regarded by analysts, The Athletic ranked him as the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect. Furthermore, Domínguez observed that Jones has also improved defensively, making more challenging fly balls into outs this season. “Numbers-wise, he’s catching more balls in the gap,” Domínguez explained. “Those max-effort plays. He’s converting those balls.”
George Lombard Jr., the 20-year-old shortstop, faced challenges early after his promotion to Double-A but has recently found his rhythm. As of Thursday, Lombard had recorded a batting average of .265 with an OPS of .890 over his last nine games, raising his overall wRC+ to 110 at this level. Domínguez has noticed Lombard stepping up as a leader, particularly in how he communicates with teammates about the opposing pitcher after each at-bat. “Sometimes we have presentations to the players about being a leader and being a good teammate,” Domínguez said. “But that’s a gift. Not everybody can be George Lombard.” Lombard is currently ranked as the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect and is No. 98 in the MLB.
After a two-homer game against Binghamton on June 8, Roc Riggio caught Domínguez’s attention. The second baseman reminded the manager of former Yankees star Brett Gardner. “When he hits a homer,” Domínguez remarked, “it reminds me of Brett Gardner. Just a swing like that. Little guy. Strong. ‘No, I’m going to crush the ball.’ He’s aggressive. He’s competitive.” While Riggio still has a long journey ahead before reaching the major leagues, he has made a strong impression this season, hitting .257 with 14 homers and 33 RBIs across rookie ball, High A, and Double A, with an OPS of .880 in 18 games at Somerset.
Rafael Flores, ranked as the No. 13 Yankees prospect, is making notable progress defensively, often citing former Yankees catcher Jose Trevino as a mentor. “I know he has a really good relationship with Trevino,” Domínguez mentioned. “He talks to Trevino a lot about everything. He’s learning a lot from the big-league guys.” Currently, Flores is hitting .282 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs, along with an OPS of .827 in 70 games at Double A, including 19 doubles.
Another undrafted talent, Dylan Jasso, has also stood out to Domínguez. The 22-year-old third baseman has recorded 10 homers and an OPS of .835 in 63 Double A games. “When he got here, he started playing every day, and people started saying, ‘Hey, he can hit,’” Domínguez noted. “Then when he started hitting, it was like, wow. He’s really impressive with the ability he has to hit and to put the ball in play.”
In conclusion, the Somerset Patriots continue to showcase a wealth of talent among their roster, with players like Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., Roc Riggio, Rafael Flores, and Dylan Jasso demonstrating their potential as future stars in the New York Yankees organization.
