Seranthony Dominguez Also Has Uncommon Fastball Velocity

The first thing that catches your eye is the first name.

“I’m not sure where it comes from,” Seranthony Dominguez said with laugh. “I think it’s something my parents heard on TV.”

The next thing that catches your eye is the arm.

“Sometimes 98 (mph), sometimes 99,” Dominguez said matter of factly.

“We saw him at a legit 100 at times last season,” said Rafael Chaves.

Chaves is the Phillies’ minor league pitching coordinator. At the start of spring training 2017, he mentioned Dominguez as someone to keep an eye on. In November, the Phillies added the 23-year-old righthander to the 40-man roster.

The Phillies have big plans for Dominguez, who who signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2011 and figures to open the season at Double-A Reading. After working as a starter since he signed for $25,000, he will move to the bullpen.

Future closer? He fits the profile.

“As a bullpen guy, he could be a quick mover,” general manager Matt Klentak said.

“He has a top-of-the-scale fastball,” director of player development Joe Jordan said. “He has a chance to really dominate in the late innings.”

Dominguez is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, with a strong lower half. To prepare him for the move to the bullpen, the Phillies have shrunk his repertoire to three pitches. He has ditched his curveball and will go with a fastball, a slider and a changeup. While Dominguez’s fastball stands out, Chaves said the other two pitches are formidable.

The move to the bullpen is OK with Dominguez.

“I am very content with either (role),” he said. “Any chance to help the team is great.”

Jordan said Dominguez was “the talk of the Florida State League” over the first six weeks of the 2017 season. He started off 3-0, 2.02 in his first seven outings at high Class A Clearwater. In 35.2 innings, he struck out 45, walked 13 and opponents hit just .187.

Dominguez suffered a shoulder strain in mid-May and missed two months. He is now healthy and in his first big league camp.

“He has an impressive arm,” Chaves said. “He just needs the command. If he puts the whole package together, he could be a real weapon.”