June 18, 2025
Right-handed pitcher Michael Dominguez is splitting time between the starting rotation and the bullpen this season for Double-A New Hampshire. Dominguez, who has been a starter for the majority of his life; is doing what’s best for his career and the organization.
“It has been a big transition going to the bullpen, I’ve pretty much started my whole life,” explained Dominguez. “I think I’ve adapted well to the bullpen role, and I like it. It’s basically the same thing you’re going out there to compete every time you’re on the mound.”
“It was an organizational move,” Dominguez added. “I’m up for whatever the organization needs and what’s going to give me the chance to move to Triple-A, and potentially the big leagues quicker – it was their move, whether I liked it or not, I’m here for the organization and whatever role they put me in.”
Pitching 28 1/3 innings so far in 2025; Dominguez has racked up 38 K’s and has a WHIP of 1.20.
The righty uses a five-pitch mix of: a 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball, a slider, a cutter, and a changeup.
Dominguez has added the 2-seam and cutter recently, ” I basically went on YouTube and looked up a 2-seam grip,” explained Dominguez. “I went to the complex the next day and threw a bullpen. I threw it and it was really good. I’ve always had a cutter, but it wasn’t very good. This spring our pitching coach Austin Bibens-Dirkx showed me a grip. I tried it, and it has been phenomenal.”
Dominguez credits his off-season preparation back home in Tampa towards the success he is having on the mound this year.
“A big thing for me was going back to my old pitching coach in high school Antonio Romero,” stated Dominguez. “I went back to him, I left him for a while, but I went back to him this off-season and got my mechanics right, got my mind right, got my body right; and just went to spring training really confident in knowing that I put in 100% effort to come back better this year and it’s showing on the field.”
Keep it up, Michael Dominguez!