Chris Dominguez
TeamMiami Hurricanes
PositionAssistant coach
Birth dateNovember 22, 1986 (age 39)
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
BatsRight
ThrowsRight
DebutleagueMLB
DebutdateSeptember 3
Debutyear2014
DebutteamSan Francisco Giants
FinaldateJune 27
Finalyear2015
FinalteamCincinnati Reds
StatleagueMLB
Stat1labelBatting average
Stat1value.175
Stat2labelHome runs
Stat2value2
Stat3labelRuns batted in
Stat3value5
Teams

Christopher Omar Dominguez (born November 22, 1986) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, who is currently an assistant coach for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team. He previously was the head baseball coach of the Bellarmine Knights from 2023 to 2024. He played college baseball for the Louisville from 2007 to 2009. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 2 seasons with the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

Amateur career

Dominguez attended Gulliver Prep in Coral Gables, Florida. He was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the 17th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign, opting to attend college.

Dominguez attended the University of Louisville, where he played college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals baseball team of the Big East Conference. In 2006, he played summer ball for the Newport Gulls. As a freshman in 2007, Dominguez was named to a First Team College Freshman All-American at designated hitter and Columbia (MO) Regional MVP in the College World Series. In the summer of 2007 he played for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL).[1][2]

In 2008, he was named a Second Team College All-American and Big East Conference All-Star at third base, and Big East Conference Player of the Year.[3] After the season, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted to return to Louisville for another season. In the summer of 2008, he returned to the CCBL to play for the Hyannis Mets, where he was named a league all-star, and made headlines by crushing three home runs in a single game, the first CCBL player to accomplish the feat since baseball hall of famer Frank Thomas did it twenty years earlier.[4][5]

In 2009, he was named a First Team College All-American and Big East Conference All-Star third baseman and Big East Conference Player of the Year.[citation needed]

Professional career

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants selected Dominguez in the third round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft; he signed with the Giants.[citation needed] Dominguez made his professional debut with the Arizona Giants of the Rookie-level Arizona League and Salem Keizer Volcanoes of the Low-A Northwest League in 2010. He played for the Augusta GreenJackets of the Single-A South Atlantic League (SAL) in 2010, and he was named the SAL All-Star third baseman in 2010. In 2011, Dominguez began the season with the San Jose Giants of the High-A California League, before he was promoted to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double-A Eastern League. He was invited to spring training in 2012.[6]

Dominguez was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2014.[7] On September 21, Dominguez hit his first major league home run off of Ian Kennedy, accounting for the only runs of the game in an 8–2 loss to the San Diego Padres.

On February 4, 2015, Dominguez was released by the Giants.

Cincinnati Reds

On February 11, 2015, Dominguez signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds.[8] He spent time with both the Triple-A Louisville Bats and the Reds that season. Dominguez elected free agency on November 6.[9]

Boston Red Sox

On December 15, 2015, Dominguez signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox that included an invitation to spring training.[10] He spent the entire 2016 season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, playing in 77 games and hitting .241/.275/.439 with 13 home runs, 39 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Dominguez elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.[11]

Chicago Cubs

Dominguez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization on January 16, 2017, which included an invite to spring training.[12] He spent the year with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, playing in 102 games and hitting .284/.323/.443 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Dominguez elected free agency following the season on November 6.[13]

Washington Nationals

On December 19, 2017, Dominguez signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He played in 84 games for the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, batting .243/.293/.406 with nine home runs, 45 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Dominguez elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.[14]

Dominguez later re-signed with Washington on a minor league deal on March 14, 2019. Dominguez was released by the Nationals organization on May 25.

Coaching career

On June 13, 2022, Dominguez was named the head baseball coach of the Bellarmine Knights.[15]

References

  1. ^ "2007 Harwich Mariners". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star rosters". Yarmouth Register. July 26, 2007. p. 18. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "College Sports". cstv.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  4. ^ "2008 Hyannis Mets". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Bruce Hack (July 12, 2008). "Three-HR Game by Mets' Dominguez was Eighth in History". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "Top Draft picks Gary Brown, Joe Panik among Giants' non-roster Spring Training invitees". mlb.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Grizzlies send four to aid Giants". fresnobee.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Cincinnati Reds on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ^ "International League Transactions". Minor League Baseball. November 2015. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  10. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 12-15-2015". mlbtraderumors.com. December 15, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2016. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  12. ^ "Cubs' Chris Dominguez: Agrees to minor league deal with Cubs". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  13. ^ "Outgoing Cubs Minor League Free Agents: John Andreoli, Trey Martin, Among Others". bleachernation.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  14. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Alexis Cubit (June 14, 2022). "Former Louisville baseball star Chris Dominguez named Bellarmine's head coach". www.courier-journal.com. Courier Journal. Retrieved June 14, 2022.