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Dodgers' 16-Year-Old Makes GCL Debut

Someone already touched on this in the Community thread for July 4, but I think this warrants a thread of its own.

A 16-year-old Dominican RHP the Dodgers signed on the first day of the international signing period, Jose Dominguez, made his pro debut today, and not in the Dominican Summer League, but the GCL.  He struck out 7 in 2.0 innings, gave up one hit, and no walks. It is just two innings, but what if Dominguez continues to excel? 16-year-olds who do well in the GCL at 16, like Elvis Andrus and Jose Tabata, almost instantly gain recognition as ELITE prospects.

Dominguez is 6'0" and 180 lbs.  He has a fastball that touches 90 (but his velocity will surely increase with age) and he has a curve. A couple days ago Logan White was quoted as saying that "It is rare to see a kid as polished as he is."

Now as Ross Perot would say, here's the beauty part. Dominguez signed for $50,000.  Not the high six figures or even seven figures everybody gets excited about their teams throwing at international players.  Baseball America has made it clear that historically the success rate for Latin Americans signed for huge money is NOT good.  Most Dominicans who end up doing really well in the majors signed for modest sums, and I tend to think that avoiding the over-priced guys is the best strategy for signing players on the international market.

0 recs  |  Comment 17 comments

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even after
thier GCL debuts, niether tabata nor andrus were considered elite prospects. andrus was in the 90's i believe and tabata failed to make the top 100.

its unlikely he will be considered elite until he does it in full season ball

also, the scouting reports will matter

by bmxstreetrider86 on Jul 4, 2007 7:56 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Bmxstreetrider86...
Your definition of elite prospect seems to be more restictive than mine.  Top 100 guys are all elite, in a manner of speaking. As you mention, Andrus was in the 90's, and I remember Tabata being mentioned by a BA writer as a guy who barely missed making their top 100 list. BA ranked Andrus the 2nd best Braves' prospect, and Tabata was ranked #3 in the Yankees' system. If Jose Dominguez can crack the Dodgers' top 5 in the next BA Prospect Handbook, I'll consider that an unbelievable return on a modest $50,000 investment.

by CanuckDodger on Jul 4, 2007 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

elite
in my opinion would be a top 30 type prospect- guys who have big time ceilings, with polish, and look like good bets to be at worst above average major league players.

by bmxstreetrider86 on Jul 4, 2007 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But
his fastball touches 90!

by t ball on Jul 4, 2007 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Must have been a dropped third strike...
as one of the K's with the batter making it to 1st.

by TRanger on Jul 4, 2007 7:56 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Isn't 2 IP
kind a small sample?

by t ball on Jul 4, 2007 8:19 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

3 WP's..
Explains the seventh K.

by ISC on Jul 4, 2007 8:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

my question
can he continue to strike out more than 27-per-9 at the big league level?

by bleedjaxblue on Jul 4, 2007 8:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

obviously no
this type of success is clearly unsustainable.  he's a bust

by wily mo on Jul 4, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

consider my parade rained on
I thought the official Bravesin07 rules of engagement required us to wait until the next start when a batter DOES make contact to declare him a bust. if we can streamline the process like this, my mind is wholly blown.

by bleedjaxblue on Jul 4, 2007 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Skip a few levels??
Is it possible for Dominguez to skip A, AA, AAA and the major leagues....in order to get immediate enshrinement into Cooperstown?

by Steve549 on Jul 4, 2007 9:30 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Jose Dominguez
Jose Dominguez: The Man, The Myth, The Legend... What a career he had: 0.00 ERA, that's gotta be a new record.

by adschofield on Jul 4, 2007 9:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

hmmmm
I mostly see people playing along, not being sarcastic, about an interesting topic about which there wasn't much substantive anyone could say. I think you'd be better off saving yourself by not reading the entries, or otherwise reading them with a less cynical tone, than begging others to stop enjoying themself.

by bleedjaxblue on Jul 5, 2007 4:35 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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