What’s stopping Seranthony Domínguez from returning

The Philadelphia Phillies need bullpen help as they make a postseason push in the final month of the season.

Then again, they’ve needed bullpen help all year. They continue to lead MLB with 27 blown saves, though the Seattle Mariners have joined them at the top of that list.

As rosters expand in September from 26 to 28 players, one of the biggest question marks is Seranthony Domínguez, who was reinstated from the IL earlier this week.

The Philadelphia Phillies have reinstated Seranthony Domínguez from the 60-day IL, but he will continue to rehab

Domínguez had Tommy John surgery at the end of July 2020 but has not pitched at the big-league level since June 5, 2019. TJ is one of the most invasive surgeries in the industry, and the recovery time is anywhere from a year to 18 months. When Zack Wheeler had the procedure in March 2015, setbacks in his recovery process kept him out of the game until April 2017.

In his first two seasons with the Phillies, Domínguez posted a 3.27 ERA over 80 appearances, including closing 26 games and earning 16 saves. His rookie season in 2018 was particularly excellent: a 2.95 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 58 innings.

However, Domínguez’s rehab has not gone according to plan. Over nine minor-league appearances in August, he had a 15.00 ERA, allowing 15 runs on 15 hits in nine innings. The last thing the Phillies need is another liability.

When asked on Tuesday about what fans could expect from Domínguez in September, Dave Dombrowski did not mince words:

"“His velocity is pretty good, his slider is good, but he’s been inconsistent.”“He still could come back in September, being on an option and being in a position where all of a sudden he put it together. That would be fantastic. But he’d be like everybody else. You’d just have to see how he does.”"

Presumably, what Dombrowski means by “like everybody else” is that Domínguez is a giant question mark. Aside from Ranger Suarez, every Phillies reliever has struggled mightily this season. If Domínguez was pitching better, there would be more urgency to bring him up.

Ultimately, as much as the Phillies need help, Dombrowski says Domínguez must prove he is ready:

"“He’s been out such a long time. We’re encouraged by where he is, but right now he would have to be more consistent to come back and help us.”"

In the meantime, he will continue to rehab in Triple-A, and the Phillies bullpen will continue to plug the leaks as they come without him.