Yankees most UNIQUE prospect Luis Durango tells us about his softball-like style at the plate

You won't find him on any Yankees top 30 prospects list, but he might just be the most electric and definitely the most unique prospect in the organization. 23 year old outfielder from Panama, Luis Durango started turning heads when he was called up to AA Somerset a few weeks ago and has batted 367 in 19 games with eight stolen bases before landing on the IL this week. We've seen hot starts, but the way he does it, we've rarely if ever seen before. Luis has a ground ball rate that would easily be the highest in the majors. He uses his speed to his advantage, keeps the ball on the ground and slaps it to the left side. When I say slap it to the left side, think about how a softball slap hitter gets a running start in the box. That's Luis Durango. To hear more about how this unique style started, I welcome on Luis. Luis, how you doing? Luis, before we get started, how are you feeling after landing on the IL? So like I mentioned in the intro, you like to slap hit like a softball player, basically running up in the box on the pitch. How did you learn to do that? I've also seen at bats that you have your hands separated on the bat. Why do you do that? Now you don't do it every pitch or at bat. What goes into the decision when you do decide to either run up in the box or have your hands separated? Well, when I'm going to change things depending on the game, the situation, and I also use it more often when I'm going to strike so I don't get punched. Well, we sacrifice power for contact and speed. And it's something that I've liked because it's my game. And I think that with that type of tool I can help to win in the team that, I mean, in the level that I go to and in the team that I'm in. And it's something very positive for me. What makes you different that you think you can get there and have success? The obvious comparisons would be guys like Chandler Simpson on the Rays, Billy Hamilton, Louisa Rice, even to an extent. Or even a guy like Yitro, are those the players that you would compare your game to or are there others out there? Teammates used to say that Yitro had elite batting practice power, but obviously in games was hitting line drives, slapping the ball on the ground. I know Luis hasn't homered since 2021, but would teammates say that he has the same batting practice power like Yitro? Now there has been guys like Terrence Gore, even a guy recently with the Yankees, Duke Ellis that is on the postseason roster strictly to be a pinch runner, basically. Have you heard at all from the Yankees if they are interested in having you inserted that role late in the regular season or even in the postseason and would you be open to it? Now growing up, if you were a fast kid in gym class, you were the cool kid. Was that Luis growing up? Last question for you. Does Luis, Luis, do you have a nickname because a speedster with the last name Durango feels like we have a good formula here for some sort of nickname? Okay. I like that. Can I, can I nominate, uh, Dodge like the car? Does that make sense? All right. Good. Good. Luis, thank you for taking some time. We hope that you get to the big leagues and we can watch your new unique style on, on the big stage at Yankee stadium.