Dominguez promotion not a commentary on closer, Kapler says
PHILADELPHIA » Maybe it’s a coincidence and maybe it’s a stretch to think it’s not.
Either way, there has to be some reason why, one day after Phillies closer Hector Neris had a ninth-inning meltdown in D.C., manager Gabe Kapler announced that top closer prospect Seranthony Dominguez was joining the club Monday.
If that seems a little quick ... that’s because Sir Seranthony started the season in DoubleA. Not that it’s a fast promotion or anything since we’re, um, six weeks in.
“In the minor leagues, he’s been pitching exceptionally well,” Kapler said. “Really good in Double-A and made the progression to Triple-A; he’s done well there. (He) has a couple of days off, good to go for us tonight. So that’s some news.”
After playing at all levels of A-ball in two previous seasons, Dominguez, 23, made news at spring training with a fastball that was popping at 98 mph. He promptly pitched 13 innings over eight appearances at Class AA Reading in April, going 1-2 with a crisp 2.08 ERA. At Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he threw 3.2 scoreless innings and received a quick call to Philly.
That fast, he was called upon to pitch the eighth inning Monday night against the Giants, partially because the Phillies were leading by 10 runs at the time, but also because Kapler was eager for a look.
But he wasn’t as excited as his new pitcher.
“He was very happy,” Dominguez said through a translator. “He was very, very excited. He didn’t even know who to tell next . ... He says it caught me by surprise, obviously. You can’t get ready for a moment like that. You always expect it to happen, but you don’t know when it’s going to happen. It’s hard to explain how exciting it is.”
Someone should have explained to the scattered Phillies fans in the stands about this new guy, because they were excited to see him hitting 97 miles per hour regularly and 98 a few times. And that was during a 1-2-3 Giants eighth that included of Evan Longoria.
But not so fast with link, Kapler might say.
“This has nothing to do with something I’ve seen recently,” Kapler said. “With Seranthony (it’s) just his performance in Double-A and Triple-A. He’s a very capable, equipped, major leagueready pitcher. He’s going to slide into our bullpen and take down meaningful innings for us.
“There’s a lot of reasons to like Seranthony. The first reason is he’s got a really big fastball, and the slider and change-up play well also. But the thing that I find most impressive about him is his composure and his maturity and his mental readiness. Those are the things that stood out in spring training and continue to stand out.”
To make room on the roster for Dominguez, lefty reliever Adam Morgan was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a back strain.
As for Neris, he’s only been used at the end of games, usually a strikeout the Neris called on to protect a lead. That’s what a closer does. But Kapler, like predecessor Pete Mackanin, seems reluctant to call Neris only a closer.
Maybe Hector that word?
“I think I’ve had this conversation with all of our relievers and I’ll continue to have it,” Kapler said. “There is no one specific role relievers are going to be used in.”
*** Neris, who couldn’t get an out through five batters while blowing a save and the game Sunday at Nationals Park — then didn’t talk about it later — met with media members in the clubhouse Monday and just said he was in a forgetting mood.
“Bad day for me yesterday, but it doesn’t happen to me every time,” he said. “We’ve got a long season. If it’s the wrong situation now you can prepare for the next couple of games, for the year, because you lose yesterday and it’s past. But I want to be good for the team to make the playoffs.” just doesn’t like