The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees four games to one to win their eighth World Series title in franchise history. World Series MVP Freddie Freeman set a major league record by hitting six home runs in six straight playoff games.
For the Yankees, questionable pitching decisions early and late in the series, combined with poor fielding, sunk the ship. In addition, team captain Aaron Judge struck out more than half the time before his game 5 home run. To make matters even more dire, Juan Soto is hitting free agency, and it will cost a lot to keep him around.
The Yankees have several decisions in the offseason on who to keep, who to let go and who to promote from their farm system. Who can help them if Soto walks? Who can address first base if Anthony Rizzo is not kept? These are three players the Yankees can promote to address some of the biggest gaps in their lineup.
3 Crucial Yankees Prospects for 2025
Jasson Dominguez, OF
2024 MLB Stat Line: .179/.313/.617; 1 double; 2 home runs; 4 RBI; 11 BB and 19 K; 5 SB
2024 Minors (Three Teams): .314/.376/.880; 8 doubles; 1 triple; 11 home runs; 35 RBI; 22 BB to 50 K; 16 SB
Despite being on the World Series roster, “The Martian” was notably absent for this series. Aside from one pinch-running appearance, Dominguez failed to record a single at-bat for the team the entire series. He had no at-bats during the entire postseason.
Yes, Dominguez is a rookie. Yes, Alex Verdugo has more experience in left field. However, after Judge blew a fly ball in center field and Verdugo’s mundane postseason, it’s time to discuss putting the Martian in the lineup.
Dominguez started off his Yankee career in 2023, clubbing four home runs in his first eight games. In addition, he had a .980 OPS during that time, seemingly impressive for a then-20-year-old. Dominguez’s rise was halted after needing Tommy John surgery that knocked out most of his 2024 season.
When the Martian came back in the middle of the season, he dominated the minor leagues. Over 58 games, he slashed a .314/.376/.880 line along with 11 home runs and a hits-to-strikeouts ratio over 1.4:1. That’s not to mention the 16 stolen bases he had during the year.
His excellent year in the minors follows a trendline for the 21-year-old, where he has consistently gotten better over time. In 2024 alone, he had a career-high in batting average, slugging, and OPS, and was on track to have more hits than strikeouts. His 2024 stats are limited due to his injury, but it’s hard to ignore his improved play.
His raw and gap power is getting better, and his patience at the plate is paying off in Triple-A. He’s about there in terms of a breakout season.
That being said, Dominguez had adjustment issues this year in the majors. The Martian hit under .200 and only had two home runs in 18 games. Yes, he stole more bases and had more walks-per-nine innings, but it was a struggle.
When surveying deeper analytics via Baseball Savant, Dominguez needs a lot of work in terms of squaring up, bringing down chase and whiff rates along connecting on the sweet spot. He also significantly regressed in terms of hitting fastballs, going .142/.250 in 2024 on the pitch, while striking out 10 times. He is young, he is talented, but he needs to be more consistent in the box.
As for his fielding, he’s suitable enough to be an everyday center fielder. In over 800 innings and over 200 chances, he’s made only six errors. In addition, he has six assists and one double-play. He’s not spectacular, but after Judge’s mishap that very well cost the Yankees an opportunity, it might be time.
If Soto walks, Dominguez is the next-best player to step in his shoes. If Soto stays, expect the Martian to go into center field. Judge likely goes back to right and Soto goes to left. He will play on this roster in 2025, it’s just a matter of how he is utilized.
Rafael Flores, C/1B
2024 (Two Teams): .279/.359/.878; 31 doubles; 21 home runs; 68 RBIs; 66 BB to 128 K; 8 SB
The Yankees have a runner-in-scoring-position issue they have to address. In five games, the team hit .200 with runners in scoring position, but the killer is that they had 45 opportunities. Hitting with RISP has been a consistent issue for this team throughout the year and even in the past.
The team hit nine home runs throughout the World Series, and we all can agree home runs are good. However, there’s only so far you can go before the long ball doesn’t work anymore. With a .212/.332/.713 slash line, they need to do better in a small ball.
If the Yankees let Rizzo walk and Ben Rice gets the first base job, Flores might be the dark horse the team needs.
The 2022 non-drafted free agent found himself on the list behind Rice and current Yankee catcher Austin Wells following their promotions. After his breakout season, he will likely be going higher on the chart in 2025.
Much like Rice, Flores displayed a convincing mix of gap and raw power not just this year, but also in 2023. While nearly half of his hits are extra-base hits, the 31 doubles and 68 RBI number is something the Yankees need to pay attention to going forward.
Breaking down his number by month, he got incredibly hot down the stretch following a cooler July. Flores consistently hit around five doubles per month while getting on base once a game. The Yankees can get guys on base, but they need someone to bring them home. If Flores can continue making good contact in Triple-A next year, it’s wise to give him the sixth or seventh slot in the order.
Chase Hampton, RHP
2024 (Three Teams): 0-1; 18.2 IP; 2.41 ERA; 11 hits and 9 walks (1.07 WHIP); 1 HR; 16 K; .172 OBA
During the World Series, the pitching staff was the least of the Yankees’ concerns. The overall team put up a respectable 3.83 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. They did enough on the surface level to keep the series within reach at all times.
However, the rotation collapsed. Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt failed to pitch over four innings, leaving the series with ERAs over 10. Luis Gil could not replicate his regular-season success. Gerrit Cole pitched well but made a critical mistake in Game 5 that was likely the catalyst for the team’s collapse.
Hampton’s year was derailed by shoulder, elbow and groin injuries. This was a lost year for the 2022 draft pick, who sought to rise to Triple-A after a solid first year in the organization.
However, when you look at his numbers, when he is healthy he can play good baseball. In 2023, Hampton sported a 13 strikeout-per-nine-innings rate, along with a 1.14 WHIP that saw him walk only 37 batters. He did give up 13 home runs, but that was the only major blemish on an otherwise good 2023.
In the games he did pitch this year, despite never pitching more than three innings a start, he did fine. His walk rate did jump to 4 1/2 per nine innings, but only surrendered one home run and dropped his opponent’s batting average to .172. When looking at his groundout-to-airout ratio, he is a groundball-inducing pitcher, something the Yankees need to prevent short-porch home runs.
There’s also a second component to it. Cole is in an opt-out year this offseason. If he walks and the Yankees don’t exercise his 10th-year option, Hampton could be a cheap alternative. Maybe, just maybe, that could give more money to keep Soto.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
