Seranthony Domínguez excelling with the Orioles
Long-time Phillies reliever Seranthony Domínguez was the other player involved in the Hays trade with the Orioles. After struggling with the Phillies for much of the past two seasons, he was hoping a change of scenery could help bring about a change in his fortunes. With the Orioles pitching staff decimated by injuries this season, Domínguez was expected to become a core member of their bullpen going forward.
Domínguez appears to have found new life with his new team. In 14 appearances, he has a 2.77 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, with just three walks and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings of work, including a hot stretch in which he gave up just one run on four hits in his first nine outings with his new club. More importantly, he has even temporarily usurped Craig Kimbrel in the Orioles’ closer role. Despite a couple of setbacks, he has gone a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities.
Domínguez had always possessed the stuff to be a dominant back-end of the bullpen reliever in the majors. It was more whether he could actually deliver on a consistent basis that was his main issue. As he continues to get himself comfortable with his new environment and teammates in Baltimore, he may eventually become a trade that the Phillies wished they could take back down the road.