Matt Dominguez, 3B

[mbitcronod12]

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_518625.jpg

Full Name: Matthew Dominguez
Born: 08/28/1989
Birthplace: Chatsworth, CA
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 180
Bats: R
Throws: R

Selected by the Florida Marlins in the first round (12th overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

[Bucklin12]

Been awhile since prospect discussion has been alive for me, but check what Matty is doing:

May: 100 AB: .200/.243/.270 - .513 OPS 1 HR, 4 BB, 21 SO
June: 95 AB: .295/.352/.474 - .826 OPS 3 HR, 9 BB, 14 SO
July: 90 AB: .289/.383/.522 - .905 OPS 5 HR, 14 BB, 14 SO

I can't tell you much this excites me. He's killing Moustakas.

[MiamiHomer]

Talk about gradual improvement.

[Bobbob1313]

That July line is absurd.

[mbitcronod12]

Promoted to AA Jacksonville on August 3rd, 2009.

[Ralph]

Once the calendar strikes June Dominguez takes off. He's at .333/.367/.649 so far this month and his season slash line .247/.322/.455 for a .777 OPS. Also gotta love the power he's putting up with a .208 ISO. Not Mike Stanton like but still pretty damn good for a 20 year old.

[Bobbob1313]

If he puts up that exact triple slash line in the majors with the gold glove level defense, I'll be beyond happy.

I think his ceiling's even higher than that too.

[wanks1212]

I'd agree that his ceiling is much higher. If he can get the average up to the .280 mark and/or add power as he ages .825-.850 OPS with GG defense would be terrrrrific.

I think with him, even his floor (Pedro Feliz type) isn't awful, if that's what he is during his rookie year and second season. Dominguez's moderate projection (.750-.775ish OPS Joe Crede type without injury issues) is a pretty solid bet to be hit, and that's good value through, like, his second year of arbitration. And if the average or power go up by the time he's nearing free agency, super.

If he'd just stop wearing designer t-shirts, I'd start to obsess over him and shit.

[LocoMarlinFan]

Dominguez in today's AA all-star game, 3-4 with 2 HR's

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2010_07_12_sosaax_sonaax_1&t=g_box&did=milb

[Ramp]

oooooooooooooooooooooh me likey

[LocoMarlinFan]

He was named MVP

SL North withstands MVP Dominguez
Infielder goes yard twice at Southern League All-Star Game


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- For Matt Dominguez, it was definitely a memorable night. In addition to winning MVP honors in the Double-A Southern League All-Star Game, the Marlins prospect got his first shaving cream pie in the face.

"I didn't know it would sting so much," the Jacksonville third baseman said. "It was all new to me. My eyes really smart."

The Marlins prospect was 3-for-4 with two home runs, making him an easy MVP choice, despite the fact that his South team lost to the North, 3-2, before a crowd of 7,782 at Joe Davis Stadium on Monday night.

Having the MVP on the losing team hardly seemed out of place in a game in which who played for whom was blurred. Because the North was short of available pitchers, Mobile's Josh Collmenter switched sides and got the victory with two scoreless innings as the North starter.

"I felt a little bit like Benedict Arnold," Collmenter said. "It was definitely different."

After completing his assignment for the North, the right-hander high-fived his temporary teammates and then headed back to the South dugout, stopping in the clubhouse to change into gray pants from white.

"They told us to bring both sets of uniforms, so I could have pitched in my home jersey," said Collmenter, who is 6-2 with a 1.59 ERA for Mobile. "But I didn't want to do that. I wanted everyone to see which team I really belonged to."

Collmenter faced three of his Bears teammates in the first inning -- Evan Frey, Collin Cowgill and Konrad Schmidt, retiring the first two and walking Schmidt. He allowed two hits and a walk and struck out a batter in his outing.

"It felt almost like a Spring Training exhibition game," Collmenter said. "But I knew this game was important and I didn't want any of my teammates to get a hit off me."

The only player who did much at the plate in the game was Dominguez, the Marlins' first-round draft choice in 2007.

Dominguez, 20, connected for home runs to left-center field in the fifth and seventh innings, drawing the South to within a run each time.

"I can't remember if I've had a two-homer game before," Dominguez said. "Maybe in my second year back in 2008."

Dominguez hit Jon Huber's first-pitch fastball to lead off the fifth and then on a 1-and-2 curveball by Anthony Varvaro with one out in the seventh. Both blasts cleared the fence about 380 feet away.

Then Dominguez got his shaving cream in the face from Jacksonville teammate Ozzie Martinez as he was being presented his ceremonial trophy bat following the game during MVP ceremonies.

"I didn't know who got me and where he came from," he said. "But it was Ozzie. Maybe I can get him back."

Dominguez went into the All-Star break hitting a modest .243, but he had 10 homers and 43 RBIs for the Suns.

"I'd like my average to be higher, but it has been coming up," he said. "I'm not disappointed. My other numbers are good."

The North scored twice in the second off Jacksonville's Tom Kohler, who leads the Southern League with an 11-2 record. The right-hander retired the side in order the in first, but allowed the first four batters to reach in the second.

Tennessee teammates Robinson Chirinos and Blake Lalli had RBI singles after a walk to Corey Smith and a double by David Sapplet.

The North quickly got the run back after Dominguez's first homer. With two outs, Tony Campana singled, Jake Kahaulelio walked and Johan Limonta collected an RBI single against Miguel Socolovich.

The South threatened again in the ninth with one out, when Orlando Mercado was hit by a pitch and Dominguez singled. But Chattanooga's Kenley Jansen struck out Willie Cabrera and got Mauro Gomez to ground into a force play to pick up the save.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100713&content_id=12226412&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[wanks1212]

"I didn't know it would sting so much," the Jacksonville third baseman said. "It was all new to me. My eyes really smart."

http://101tees.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/thats-what-she-said-300x300.jpg

[nny]

His power is basically completely gone

Just 1 HR since July 1st, just 5 doubles. .079 ISO in that time frame. His season ISO is down to just .148.

Has there been any reports on him being hurt or anything?

And his BABIP is still hovering around .280

Still gotta like his BB/K at least, not logan but it's good

[wanks1212]

yeah, the BB/K is still okay and his defense is good. but his BABIP is down to .256 and his season OPS is only .690.

he probably doesn't repeat AA, only because of his raw talent, but it wouldn't completely surprise me if he did. if a non first round pick put up these numbers he'd probably end up repeating AA.

i still really like him, but he's having some big time problems recently.

[Miamarlin21]

His defense is there. The Mudcats manager, David Bell (former third baseman) was praising how great Matty is. It's big league ready right now.

Matt shows flashes of a good swing, he just can't put it all together.

I would be upset if Dominguez did not repeat Double-A.

[Ramp]

I mean people were saying his glove was big league ready when we drafted him

[Miamarlin21]

True.

[Todd]

He was kinda rushed, so I am not fretting his struggles offensively just yet.

[Bucklin12]

On a bit of a hot streak.

August numbers (10 games):
.405/.467/.703/1.169
15 for 37 (3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR), 4 BB, 5 SO

Season totals:
.251/.330/.414/.744

45 BB / 79 SO and 12 HR, in 418 AB

Not bad at all for a 20 year old. If he can put up .750 in the majors with his defense, that's totally fine with me.

[Bobbob1313]

Yep, absolutely fine with that kind of production from a GG level 3B.

[Ramp]

I'm not.

Dude was a 1st round pick. I expect much more and would not be happy if this is as good as he gets.

[Bucklin12]

His defense is going to save 15 runs above average every single year. That's roughly 100 OPS points over 1,200 innings with an average fielder. Would .850 satisfy? Because that's what he'll be worth if his numbers now are as good as it gets.

[Ramp]

Honestly, I expect him to be Ryan Zimmerman and if he's not, I'll be disappointed

[Beef]

His defense is going to save 15 runs above average every single year. That's roughly 100 OPS points over 1,200 innings with an average fielder. Would .850 satisfy? Because that's what he'll be worth if his numbers now are as good as it gets.

If you do it that way, he is essentially worth .850 with no defense then, yes?

[fishy]

have you guys seen him play
his approach at the plate is improving thru the year and I have yet
to see better at 3b in minors

[Ramp]

I haven't seen him play since he signed. I'm in no ways hating on him right now. Just when he eventually is in the bigs, I will be disappointed if he's not our own version of Ryan Zimmerman.

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for that either.

[fishy]

i agree i have seen about 20 Suns game and he is silk at 3B and batting 4 is helping him
there is alot of future players on that squad

[wanks1212]

Dominguez is going to be eligible for the AFL again, yes? If they're thinking about starting him at AAA next year, he needs to go to the AFL in the fall.

[Todd]

He doesnt have to be Ryan Zimmerman for me to be happy. A healthy version of Eric Chavez or Mikey Lowell and I will call it an epic win.

[Bucklin12]

If you do it that way, he is essentially worth .850 with no defense then, yes?

League Average defense.

[Ramp]

He doesnt have to be Ryan Zimmerman for me to be happy. A healthy version of Eric Chavez or Mikey Lowell and I will call it an epic win.

You should probably check those guys' numbers when healthy, they were absolute beasts.

[Todd]

You should probably check those guys' numbers when healthy, they were absolute beasts.
Fair enough. I usually just go with Chavez(who was awesome when on but streaky), which I speculate that Dominguez will be like.

[nny]

I think adrian beltre in non-contract years is who to expect

[Ralph]

It seems he takes his walks more than Adrian Beltre though.

[Mainge]

Matt Dominguez had a rough spring.
The Florida Marlins' top-ranked prospect was given a chance to win the starting third base job, but batted just .190 (8-for-42) in big league camp and was optioned to New Orleans on March 24.

"They showed a lot of faith in me," Dominguez said of the Marlins. "They gave me an opportunity in Spring Training. Things didn't go the way I wanted them to go. I didn't have a good Spring Training.

"But they had positive things to say to me. They said go back to Triple-A, get in the groove of things and work on some stuff. Hopefully we'll see you soon."

Then, just as Dominguez started to regain his confidence at the plate, he was hit by a pitch on his left elbow on March 31 in the Zephyrs' final exhibition game of the spring. Dominguez was diagnosed with a fracture and missed the next five weeks.

After eight rehab games with Class A Advanced Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville, Dominguez finally joined New Orleans on May 19.

"It's good," Dominguez said of his elbow. "It took a while to just get playing. I haven't had any troubles or anything."

Dominguez has long been considered an outstanding defensive player, which was part of the reason the Marlins were willing to let him compete for a big league job, even if he had not played above Double-A until this season.

His bat, however, has always been the question mark, and his rough spring plus the injury have not alleviated those concerns.

"I know in my mind I'm going to hit," Dominguez said. "[Critics] can say what they want. I feel I'll be a pretty good hitter. I've just got to work on certain things, get a little more defined as a hitter. I think it's going to come around. I'm just hot and cold, hot and cold. I just want to get a little more consistent."

So far, Dominguez has batted .242 (60-for-248) with nine home runs and 43 RBIs for the Zephyrs. He said the injury did hamper his hitting, but he is past that now.

"Going through a month-and-a-half of Spring Training, you start feeling good finally and getting back in the groove of things, then for that to happen, you sit out for five weeks," he said. "Definitely the hitting has taken a little longer [to come back]."

Dominguez said he does have to slow himself down sometimes. He is the Zephyrs' youngest player and has moved quickly up the Minor League ladder since being drafted in the first round in 2007 out of Los Angeles' Chatsworth High School.

"I'm 21, almost 22 now; being in Triple-A is quite an accomplishment," Dominguez said. "I know my time will come. I've just got to go out and get better as a hitter, get better defensively too. Hopefully things will click and I'll get up there."

http://cupcakerehab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/fluff11.jpg
--------------------
Also:

His defense is there. The Mudcats manager, David Bell (former third baseman) was praising how great Matty is. It's big league ready right now.

Matt shows flashes of a good swing, he just can't put it all together.

I would be upset if Dominguez did not repeat Double-A.

:lol

[Hugg]

It all comes together!

[Namaste]

Dominguez is going to be eligible for the AFL again, yes? If they're thinking about starting him at AAA next year, he needs to go to the AFL in the fall.


RIP Wanks

[jay576]

I like how he says he needs to get better on defense when he is already consider one of the best

[marlins_virus.exe]

Yeah what the hell happens to wanks

[MiamiHomer]

He's exclusively on twitter now.

[Mainge]

Florida third base prospect Matt Dominguez continued to stay productive at the plate Wednesday night. Now the Marlins will hope that the apparent injury that forced him to exit the game is not serious.

The former first-rounder slugged a three-run homer in the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs' 8-7 loss to the Las Vegas 51s. He is hitting .571 (12-for-21) with nine RBIs over his last five games.

After striking out in his first at-bat, Dominguez -- selected 12th overall in the 2007 Draft -- went yard to left field with one out in the fourth inning. It was his 11th longball of the year and the second in the past four days.

In the sixth, the 6-foot-1 right-hander hit into a 6-4-3 double play before leaving the game in the home half of the inning with what was initially suspected to be an upper leg injury.

Florida's top prospect has found his groove at the plate of late. He was 4-for-6 with three RBIs, missing hitting for the cycle by a triple, in the series opener with Las Vegas on Sunday, and he had two hits in each of the previous two games. In 10 August games, he is batting .378.

A front-runner for landing a starting job with the Marlins entering Spring Training this March, the California native struggled in Grapefruit League action before being assigned to the Zephyrs. He broke his left elbow in New Orleans' final preseason outing and missed the first six weeks of the regular season.

He returned to action May 10, making four rehab starts with the Class A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League before taking a five-hour trip north up Florida's East Coast to join the Double-A Jacksonville Suns for a four-game set at home to the Mississippi Braves.

Despite concluding his Southern League assignment with just two hits and one RBI in 15 at-bats, Dominguez rejoined the Zephyrs the following day. Since returning to the New Orleans lineup May 19, the third baseman is hitting .260 with 53 RBIs in 76 Pacific League outings.

On Wednesday, Dominguez hit one of five Zephyrs' homers. Chris Aguila blasted two longballs for the third time this season to move him one homer shy of Daryle Ward (53) for second place on the team's all-time list. Mike Cervenak and Sergio Pedroza also went deep for the Marlins affiliate.

Former first-rounder Robert Ray (1-3) earned his first PCL win of the year, despite allowing seven runs on 11 hits and a walk while striking out six over 7 2/3 innings.

http://www.lockerpulse.com/News/Prospect-Dominguez-homers-exits-with-injury-S1583898/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Florida-Marlins

Dammit.

[Omar]

Is it just me, or is he hurt a lot?

[marlins_virus.exe]

Is it just me or is hearing him referred to as "Florida's top prospect" depressing?

[Beef]

Shouldn't you just be happy it's not a high school catcher?

[dim]

Is it just me or is hearing him referred to as "Florida's top prospect" depressing?

Somewhat. It's nice to have guys like Realmuto and Yelich with bright futures though.

It sucks that for the most part, our talent in terms of starting pitching in the minors is pretty crappy. No real #1/2/3 potential pitchers, just a lot of 5's.

[Bobbob1313]

Chad James is certainly not a #5 potential guy.

[dim]

Chad James is certainly not a #5 potential guy.

He's also not a #1 or 2.

[Bobbob1313]

But you said...

[Miamarlin21]

MinorLeagueBlog Top Prospect Alert
Both #Royals Mike Moustakas & #Marlins Matt Dominguez will have their Chatsworth High School numbers retired on Feb. 4th. Both will attend.

Yay?

[Ramp]

nay

[jOOj]

We got the wrong one.

[Chewford]

They both mean yes in Korean!