MLB and the MLBPA are continuing their negotiations for the 2020 season, and though it looks to be an impasse at the moment, there is still hope that an agreement will be reached for baseball to return.
But, for most prospects of teams, they won't be seeing baseball this season. And that includes the Yankees' top prospect,17-year-old Jasson Dominguez.
The Yankees spent $5.1 million to sign Dominguez out of the Dominican Republic last year, winning the sweepstakes for easily the best international prospect in the class. Dubbed "The Martian," Dominguez is expected to be the Bombers' center fielder of the future with some even making the comparison to Mike Trout.
Dominguez was set to begin his professional career this season -- and the spotlight would've been very large. But now that full year of development and facing off against other pros will have to wait until 2021.
"The young Latin kids really need games,'' Mark Newman, the Yankees' former senior vice president of baseball operations, told the New York Post. "They grow up in a system that is more workout-oriented than the U.S. system. Games are the focus here."
In those games, the Yankees were expecting to get a good look at what that switch bat at the plate could really do. Dominguez is only 5-foot-10, but his 190-pound frame mixed with very fast hands showcases power unlike anything scouts have seen from someone his age. He's extremely fast and has a cannon for an arm in the outfield.
For Newman, though, having prospects like Dominguez missing out on minor league at-bats is the biggest thing out of this.
"The effect is especially significant with the development of the hit tool," Newman explained. "Young hitters need to see movement, changes of speed and game situations. Minor league games are essentially simulations for MLB."
Who knows what would've happened for Dominguez this season? Maybe he would've tore through the lower levels, or maybe he would see just how tough this road to the majors will be with some tougher competition.
However, this year off most likely won't hurt his production and development in the future. For other prospects, the same can't be said. But Dominguez is still very young and his tools aren't going anywhere.
The Yankees and their fans will just have to wait another year to see what this wunderkind has in store.