Last season, Orioles GM Mike Elias acquired right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez, along with Cristian Pache, from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Austin Hays.
The move was a little bit of a revelation for the Orioles, as Craig Kimbrel flamed out on his stay as the team’s closer. Looking for a solution that works, Domínguez was given the opportunity to close out games, and he might have single-handedly saved the season by a few games.
Domínguez would appear in 17 games for the Birds, collecting two holds and converting 11 of 13 save opportunities while posting a 3.97 ERA, almost a full point lower than his season ERA with the Phillies (4.75).
Now, if you delve in a little bit deeper, Dominguez was pulling a magic trick because some of the numbers indicate an issue heading into the 2025 season.
The first one that stands out is that Domínguez allowed six home runs across just 22.1 innings of work. That’s a home run in less than every four outings. For a reliever, that is a cautionary tale.
When you look at batting average against (BAA) and WHIP, you’ll find that in less innings of work (22.1 with the O’s to 36 with the Phillies) that his BAA was up to .227 compared to .224 and his WHIP was up from 1.22 to 1.28 with the Orioles.
Domínguez also saw his pitches per plate appearance rise to 4.2, his opponent OBP jump to .296, opponent slugging to .455 and opponent OPS to .751, each the highest of his career. To make matters worse, his walks per nine (3.57) and home runs per nine (2.38) were both up in fewer innings and games than during his time with Philadelphia last season.
However, Domínguez did just enough to give the Orioles 11 more victories due to his save conversions, as the Birds found their way into the postseason. Come 2025, Félix Bautista is due to return, and Domínguez was considered for a late-inning relief role and to even step in for Bautista on days he is off.
As spring training arrived, the bullpen seemed pretty set, and Dominguez was intended to be a big part of that. Unfortunately, he has turned heads and not in a good or encouraging way.
Domínguez has appeared in five games so far this spring and looked like someone who has never faced big league hitting before. He has combined for 4.2 innings of work, going 0-1 and compiling a 23.14 ERA, 4.07 WHIP and a .500 BAA.
To make matters worse, he has walked five batters and allowed four home runs while facing 33 batters in 22.1 innings with a .667 BABIP and an OPS of 1.683.
“We work a lot to be ready for the season and to do your best every single time you go out there and try to compete,” Domínguez said of his struggles. “And when things aren’t going the way that you want it, it’s really a struggle.”
What many don’t know is that Domínguez is working on an adjustment to his delivery that changes where his hands are set. Increasing his level of confidence and getting comfortable with the change is what he needs to do heading into Opening Day.
“He’s working on some stuff delivery-wise,” O’s manager Brandon Hyde said after Domínguez’s last outing. “Shaky command early, but I thought he got better as the inning went on. He’s been in the league for a while now. His command isn’t perfect right now, but we expect it to improve over the course and be ready for the season.”
History suggests this is just a hiccup in his career. In the three seasons, he collected his most saves (2018, 2022 and 2024), Domínguez combined for a 2.7 WAR while also pitching more than 51 innings and averaging more K/9 and fewer BB/9.
“It’s been a little bit of a struggle for the first couple of outings, and I know the team needs me,” Domínguez said to the media. “They gave me the opportunity to be here. I’m happy to be here, and I know I’m better than what I’m showing.”
While the stats in spring appear concerning, the reality is that until we see Domínguez when it counts, we aren’t rushing to judgment. The regular season starts in a little over a week, which should allow some more time for Domínguez to get comfortable and find his confidence.
What are your thoughts on Seranthony Domínguez and his spring struggles? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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