The Reel: Meet Jackfish Pitcher Jose Dominguez
Pitcher Jose Dominguez, left, jokes around with catcher Robert Mullen. Dominguez is the first former Major League Baseball player to appear for the Welland Jackfish.
Jose Dominguez fits in perfectly with the Welland Jackfish.
The 34-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is popular with his teammates, is a reliable starting pitcher, and has as much fun as anyone.
But Dominguez is not your normal Intercounty Baseball League pitcher.
The hard-throwing right-hander has Major League Baseball experience, appearing in 52 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Rays and San Diego Padres from 2013-2016.
Jackfish general manager Jason McKay added Dominguez in the off-season, the first-ex big leaguer to play for Welland.
“We’ve never had that before and he’s just got a really cool demeanour,” McKay said. “We wanted a mature pitching set and he’s been fantastic. He’s such a good teammate, too. Yeah, we had our eye on him for a while.”
Jackfish manager Brian Essery loves having a player with a big league pedigree on the team.
“It’s a big step for us and credit Jason McKay,” Essery said. “We’ve talked about it before and I know Jason’s been scouring and trying to get guys that have big league experience because they’re out there and we’re just really fortunate to have him.”
Essery said Dominguez doesn’t pull rank as a former Major League Baseball player.
“He doesn’t big league anybody,” Essery said. “You’d never know that he pitched in the big leagues if you didn’t look him up because he doesn’t talk about it, he doesn’t act like he’s a big leaguer. He fits in great with the guys, laughs, jokes. Just a really good dude.”
Dominguez, who was signed for $50,000 as a 16-year-old by the Dodgers, loves being a Jackfish.
“It’s fun and then we have very a good team that competes,” he said. “It’s when you’re looking to compete that you’ll get better and better.
“It’s just baseball. I mean, you have to do your job and that’s it.”
Dominguez doesn’t look his nose down on the IBL.
“Everybody’s the same level, everybody’s the same baseball player right now. I mean, it’s your level because you’re here,” he said. “You know, it’s a good experience. You just play hard every day and do whatever you have to do to be healthy and help your team.”
When pressed, Dominguez offers a few nuggets about The Show.
“The money first,” he laughed when asked for the best part. “You are in the league, the best in the world. So you look around and see star people like Clayton Kershaw, Hanley Ramirez, you know?
“There is a lot of competition and in the big leagues they just have like 25 (on the roster) so it’s hard to be there, it’s hard to stay because you have to compete every day at the high level and work hard every day.”
Dominguez, who is 3-1 with a 2.39 earned run average in five games this season, is happy to pass along his knowledge.
“If somebody needs help, I’m here for them. And I can help wherever you need. If I can help you, I do it.”
Jackfish catcher Robert Mullen loves catching Dominguez.
“I think it makes my job a little bit easier because I’ve been through those things too,” said Mullen, who played in the Oakland minor league system for six years. “I just put the signs down and you got the pitch where you want.”
Dominguez isn’t sure how much longer he will continue to play.
“I’m so old already,” he laughed. “I think I’m my career is almost done. I’m 34 years old so maybe I can play like two, three more years and that’s it.”