As with all baseball fans, I am sure Dodger fans begin the second part of the season with a series of expectations. I have some expectations although they are based primarily on the Dodgers becoming and remaining a healthy club for the duration of the season. Under those circumstances I expect the team to compete for the division title.

I also expect that the Dodgers will again test the trade market before the July 31 trade deadline. They may acquire one of the following – a bat, a starting pitcher or a reliever. The anticipation is that a second baseman or third baseman would be acquired to provide some offensive help. I would also not be surprised to see the team trade for a power bat to come off the bench.

As trivial as it may sound, one of my anticipations is to see Jose Dominguez pitch successfully at the MLB level. I did see him pitch (on MiLB.TV) with the Chattanooga Lookouts. It was obvious that he has some serious heat but was not the so called one trick pony. I could also understand why there were comparisons being made to Pedro Martinez. That is not to suggest Jose Dominguez is another Pedro Martinez. There may never be another Pedro. The comparisons being made were regarding the nature of his fastball and his physical stature – 6’0” at 160 lb. As with Pedro Martinez, the questions were asked how the wiry Dominguez could generate so much velocity on his fastball.

The similarities between Pedro Martinez and Jose Dominguez are amazing.
(Photo credit – SIKids.com & Ron Cervenka)

Jose Dominguez has not had an easy route to major league baseball although his beginning suggested it might be a certainty. He was signed by the Dodgers in 2007 as a sixteen year old from the Dominican Republic who could throw a 90 mph fastball. Logan White certainly liked what he saw in the youngster. White commented: “It’s rare to see a kid as polished as he is.”

Dominguez spent his first three season in the Dominican Summer League with relatively good results:

• 2008 – 42 innings 55 strikeouts 5.14 ERA
• 2009 – 59 innings 57 strikeouts 3.64 ERA
• 2010 – 24 innings 21 strikeouts 1.13 ERA

The first bump in the road for Jose Dominguez came at the end of the 2009 season. He tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol. The result was a fifty game suspension that he served in 2010 resulting in only twenty-four innings pitched in his third season. They were impressive innings suggesting he was on the right track in his career.

The Dodgers were impressed enough to bring Dominguez to play in the United States. In both of the 2011 and 2012 seasons Dominguez went 4-4 and continued to strike out a batter an inning with a fastball in his arsenal that was being reported at 100 mph. His 2012 season ended on another sour note as he again had issues with a drug test. Although the details of the test were not revealed, Dominguez received a twenty-five game suspension to be served at the beginning of the 2013 season. It is believed but for his suspensions he may well have been taken in the Rule 5 draft in 2013.

Besides his issues with his failed drug tests, Dominguez has struggled with his control during his minor league career with 114 walks in 282 innings.

Dominguez served his second suspension at the beginning of the 2013 season and armed with a new attitude and a 100 plus fastball began a quick ascent to the Dodgers . After a successful stop with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts and an even more successful stint with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, Jose Dominguez got the call that all minor league players dream of getting on June 29, 2013 – he became a major league baseball player and a Dodger.

‘”There’s my little Pedro,” said Dodger bullpen coach Chuck Crim the first time he saw Jose Dominguez. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Dodger fans, many of whom may not have known anything about Dominguez, were pleasantly surprised by his major league debut on June 30th against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mixing in a change-up in the low 80s with a fastball consistently 97 and higher, he threw two pitches that were clocked at 101 mph, one at 100, six at 99 and one at 97. Formerly a starter, Dominguez has both a starter’s repertoire and a starter’s mentality. He now is best known for his heater but also mixes in his effective change-up, along with a slider (described as ‘nasty”) and a cutter. His fastball has touched as high as 103 mph and he can hit 100 mph consistently. When asked about his velocity he spoke of his consistency in 2013: “Last year, I was throwing 97, 98,” Dominguez said. “Occasionally, I’d touch 100. This year, I’ve been more consistent.” His control has definitely improved this year but may well be a bit of a challenge for him.

Dominguez, who frequently hits 100 MPH, has been clocked as high as 103 MPH.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Dominguez, the cousin of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Colome and the nephew of former major league pitcher Jesus Colome, is thrilled to be on a major league roster and is doing all he can to ensure he stays there. He was asked about his two suspensions that no doubt are a source of embarrassment for him. He responded by saying “I’d prefer not to talk about that,” but insists he is a changed person. “It helped me understand that I don’t need anything,” he said. “What I have is something that God gave me.” That chapter of his life is behind him with the realization that he doesn’t need something else to give him an advantage. He already has it – one of the best fastballs in all of major league baseball.