00:00You won't find him on any Yankees top 30 prospects list, but he might just be the most electric and
00:05definitely the most unique prospect in the organization. 23-year-old outfielder from
00:10Panama Luis Durango started turning heads when he was called up to AA Somerset a few weeks ago
00:15and has batted .367 in 19 games with 8 stolen bases before landing on the IL this week.
00:22We've seen hot starts, but the way he does it we've rarely, if ever, seen before. Luis has a
00:27ground ball rate that would easily be the highest in the majors. He uses his speed to his advantage,
00:33keeps the ball on the ground, and slaps it to the left side. When I say slap it to the
00:37left side,
00:38think about how a softball slap hitter gets a running start in the box. That's Luis Durango.
00:44To hear more about how this unique style started, I welcome on Luis. Luis, how you doing?
00:50Me siento bien, gracias a Dios, y contento, y gracias por la oportunidad de la entrevista.
00:55Luis, before we get started, how are you feeling after landing on the IL?
00:59Me siento, o sea, normal, porque sé que voy a volver pronto, y pues, eh, son cosas que pasan,
01:08están dentro del juego, pero estoy 100% positivo, y confío en Dios que todo va a estar bien,
01:14y estoy pronto, muy pronto en el terreno.
01:16So, like I mentioned in the intro, you like to slap hit like a softball player, basically,
01:20running up in the box on the pitch. How did you learn to do that?
01:24Bueno, eh, aquí en, con el cost de bateo de, del equipo, pues, hemos practicado mucho eso,
01:32y pues, se, se nos está dando en el juego, y me siento, me siento bien haciéndolo,
01:38y, y está dando mucho resultado.
01:41I've also seen at bats that, that you have your hands separated on the bat.
01:45Why do you do that?
01:46Bueno, eh, eso empezó en mayo, cuando empecé mi rehabilitación de la rodilla,
01:51eh, el coordinador de bateo de la organización, me dijo que separar un poco las manos para minimizar ponche,
02:01y, eh, dar más línea, y, pues, poner la bola en el piso, y usar mis herramientas que son las
02:09piernas.
02:09Y se ha dado buenos resultados.
02:11Now, you don't do it every pitcher at bat, what goes into the decision when you do decide to either
02:16run up in the box
02:17or have your hands separated?
02:19Eh, bueno, cuando voy a caminar, o sea, dependiendo del juego, la situación,
02:27y también lo uso más seguido cuando estoy yendo a strike para, para no poncharme.
02:32Before the Yankees selected you in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, you played in the Guardian system.
02:37In 140 games with them, you hit .253, but in 123 games with the Yankees organization, you've hit .306.
02:44What did the Yankees do to help unlock more than 50-point increase in your batting average?
02:50Bueno, eh, sacrificamos el poder por el contacto y la velocidad, y, pues, es algo que me ha gustado porque
03:01es mi juego,
03:02y, pues, yo creo que con ese tipo de herramientas puedo ayudar a ganar en el equipo que, o sea,
03:09en el nivel que vaya
03:10y en el equipo que esté, pues, y es algo muy positivo para mí.
03:14We've really never seen someone with your unique style at the plate be successful in the big leagues.
03:19What makes you different that you think you can get there and have success?
03:23Bueno, pues, eh, algo que, que, primero que todo, o sea, confío mucho en lo que tengo, en, en mí,
03:33y, pues, yo creo que encomendando nomás a Dios y, y jugando con el corazón, pues, yo pienso que se
03:40me puede dar.
03:41The obvious comparisons would be guys like Chandler Simpson on the Rays, Billy Hamilton, Louisa Rize,
03:47even to an extent, or even a guy like Echerell.
03:49Are those the players that you would compare your game to, or are there others out there?
03:54Yo pienso que, o sea, sí, yo, o sea, me comparan y, pues, yo los, yo los miro,
03:59pero yo creo que tengo la confianza de, confianza en mí de que puedo ser mejor con, con todos los
04:07colectivos que tengo,
04:08que es caminar home y, pues, saber cuándo tocar la bola, eh, y esas cosas, pues, pues, confío en mí,
04:15pues,
04:16y, nada, 100% confiado.
04:21Teammates used to say that Echerell had elite batting practice power,
04:25but obviously in games was hitting line drive, slapping the ball on the ground.
04:28I know Luis hasn't homered since 2021,
04:31but would teammates say that he has the same batting practice power, like Echerell?
04:38Eso viene con el tiempo.
04:41Now, there has been guys like Terrence Gore,
04:43or even a guy recently with the Yankees, Duke Ellis,
04:45that is on the postseason roster, strictly to be a pinch runner, basically.
04:49Have you heard it all from the Yankees,
04:51if they are interested in having you in sort of that role late in the regular season,
04:55or even in the postseason, and would you be open to it?
04:57Well, ahora no se han acercado, pero si se acercan, pues,
05:02estaría preparado.
05:03Creo que sería una gran oportunidad de demostrar el tipo de juego que tengo,
05:09y, pues, pero no pienso en eso ahora mismo.
05:11Pienso más que todo es en divertirme cada vez que voy a salir a jugar.
05:14Now, growing up, if you were a fast kid in gym class,
05:18you were the cool kid.
05:19Was that Luis growing up?
05:22Sí.
05:23Pero humilde, humilde, humilde.
05:25Okay, good.
05:27Last question for you.
05:29Does Luis, Luis, do you have a nickname?
05:31Because a speedster with the last name Durango
05:33feels like we have a good formula here for some sort of nickname.
05:37El Dash, del pequeñito que corre rápido, lo increíble.
05:41Okay, I like that.
05:43Can I, can I nominate a Dodge, like the car?
05:46Does that make sense?
05:48La combinación del increíble con el carro, está bien.
05:51All right, good, good.
05:53Luis, thank you for taking some time.
05:54We hope that you get to the big leagues
05:57and we can watch your unique style
05:59and the big stage at Yankee Stadium.
06:02Muchas gracias, muchas gracias por todo.
06:04Y tengo la fe y la certeza que se va a Dios primero.
