The New York Mets poaching Juan Soto was the year’s biggest story. Cross-town kings at 161st and River were heartbroken and angry. How could the New York Yankees replace a generational superstar in Soto? Would you take someone from another planet and half a billion dollars? The answer was already there, The Martian. The 22-year-old Dominican outfielder the Yankees have been grooming. Jasson Dominguez is no Soto, not yet anyway, but let’s take a closer look at 36 games into the season; you may be as impressed as I am.
*Stats as of the morning of April 7th
Soto vs. Dominguez – Battle of New York
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Numbers are Close
Dominguez and Soto had comparable early-season stats. Dominguez played 30 games, hitting .238 with 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, 3 SBs, and a .706 OPS. Soto played 37 games, batting .254 with 5 HRs, 14 RBIs, 2 SBs, and a .813 OPS. Soto’s higher OPS and slightly better average reflect his edge in plate discipline and power, while Dominguez, younger and less experienced, shows promise with speed. Soto’s consistency suits the Mets’ lineup, but Dominguez’s potential could shine in Yankee Stadium’s short right field.
The Martian is a Lefty
Where this gets interesting is Dominguez from the left side of the plate. As a switch hitter, he has faced RHP in 63 at-bats this season through May 6 with a slash line of .317/.870 with both his dingers and eight of his 12 RBIs. Add an intriguing matchup on Wednesday vs. the Padres and RHP Dylan Cease at 161st in the Bronx, and we will see an emergence of the Soto Replacement without the astronomical contract.
The Martian was mashing last night 👽
Presented by @Delta pic.twitter.com/YBTL6PaTud
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 7, 2025
Getting into the SABR numbers, it is even clearer that the Martian is the hero the Yankees deserve. Starting with rOBA, which measures the value of offensive contributions and is weighted proportionately to each event’s actual run value. Soto at .377 to Dominguez at .338. “The Martian” is edging Soto out in hard-hit rate at 56 percent of his hit balls with an exit velocity of 95 MPH+ compared to Soto’s 55 percent. Where the Yankees are missing, the half-a-billion-dollar guy walks, inevitably leading to runs. Soto 29, Dominguez 13, leading to the run differential of +11 in favor of Soto.
Soto’s stellar 2024 season came with the inflation of batting in front of Judge. This is as undeniable as Judge being the greatest hitter of the 21st century. Dominguez had not yet had this pleasure, nor the added effect of being sandwiched between Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
The Juan Soto Lineup Padding
The Martian is young but extremely promising. In his first 56 games, he is outpacing Soto in most metrics. Tommy John surgery to end last season and miss the playoff run, in addition to being on the Yankees, who are not known to throw their prospects in and let them fly, have been holding him back. Summer is coming; the ball travels 6ft further in 90-degree heat in the Bronx; his swing is perfect for Yankee Stadium, and he’s 22 years old.
