Such is the case for 16-year-old Jasson Dominguez of the Dominican Republic, the top-ranked international prospect per MLB Pipeline, who just reportedly signed with the Yankees for $5 million.
July 2 marks the official start of the international signing period, when teams can begin to make such deals.
Dominguez, an outfielder, has drawn comparisons to both Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout by international scouts, who can't seem to find words to describe his otherworldly array of skills and tools, thus forging the nickname "The Martian."
He even grew up the son of "an enormous Yankee fan," earning the name "Jasson" after former Yankees slugger Jason Giambi. Dominguez's parents, Felix and Dorca, settled on the name prior to his birth in February of 2003, seemingly sealing his fate as a future ballplayer.
"Dominguez is the cream of the crop in this year's class, and one of the best international prospects available in years," writes Jesse Sanchez for MLB Pipeline. "The 16-year-old Dominican is strong and athletic and has a mature body for his age. Think a teenage Mike Trout."
The Yankees also reportedly agreed to terms with another outfielder, No. 18 prospect Jhon Diaz, also from the Dominican Republic, for $1.2 million.
While each of these two promising prospects could become the next stars in an already strong Yankees farm system before long, fans' imaginations will be fixed on the potential of the youngster Dominguez, a player one scouting director called, "the best July 2 player I've ever seen."
"[Dominguez] could be the first position player in the class to make it to the big leagues because he has all of the tools scouts love to see in young prospects now -- and he projects to get even better," Sanchez continues. "What's more, he's able to translate those skills into games."
Dominguez could potentially become the next great precocious star to make an impact in the big leagues, following in the footsteps of players like Juan Soto (20), Fernando Tatis Jr. (20), Vlad Guerrero Jr. (20), Ronald Acuna Jr. (21) and others, but before then, he'll have to wait until at least 2020 to play in the Yankees organization due to rules preventing 16-year-olds from playing in the same year they sign their deals.
For now, the myth-making YouTube clips will have to suffice.
