Jose Dominguez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #16 prospect in 2015
  Despite hitting 100 mph with regularity and striking out 11 batters per nine innings at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2013 and 2014, Dominguez logged just 14 big league appearances during two callups to the Dodgers. The Rays acquired the big-armed righthander (plus righty Greg Harris) in November when they traded Joel Peralta and Triple-A reliever Adam Liberatore to Los Angeles in a 40-man roster-shuffling deal. Dominguez, who is cousin of Rays righthander Alex Colome, doesn't rely solely on 98-100 mph velocity, but it doesn't hurt. His fastball features some downhill life that make him difficult to square up or take deep. Better command of his mid-80s slider that flirts with being a plus pitch could make him a closer, but unless that happens, Dominguez might have to settle for seventh- and eighth-inning work. Though he'll need to improve his control and stay healthy after dealing with a strained quad in 2013 and shoulder inflammation in 2014. Dominguez has weathered two drug suspensions in his career--50 games for anabolic steroid use in 2009 and 25 games for an unspecified violation in 2012--but he's ready to contribute to the big league bullpen in 2015.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #11 prospect in 2014
  The Dodgers left Dominguez unprotected in the 2012 Rule 5 draft, but despite a fastball that clocks in north of 100 mph, every team in baseball passed. Some may have been wary of his history of drug-related suspensions. Dominguez was banged for 50 games after testing positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol (commonly sold as Winstrol) while in the Dominican Summer League in 2009, then in November 2012, Major League Baseball suspended him 25 games for an unspecified violation of the minor league drug program. The Dodgers were able to retain the righthander for 2013 and got him to the majors at the end of June, but a strained left quad ended his season. Dominguez is a pure power arm who sits at 97-100 mph and can reach 102. He has some natural life on his fastball and gets around on it sometimes, which gives it occasional cutting action. He complements his heater with a hard slider with short, quick break that comes and goes. He's learning to keep it in the bottom of the zone, and to keep it from popping out of his hand, which lets hitters see it early. He rarely throws his below-average changeup. Dominguez's fastball allows him to get away with mistakes, and he did improve his control in 2013, but it's still below-average. Even if his control remains erratic, his power arm will likely give him plenty of opportunities. He should start 2014 in the major league bullpen, where he fits as a middle reliever.