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Orioles' Seranthony Dominguez has a new secret weapon

How one pitch has begun to transform Seranthony Dominguez's season
ByBrendan Mortensen|
Relying on a new putaway pitch has led to impressive numbers from Seranthony Dominguez.
Relying on a new putaway pitch has led to impressive numbers from Seranthony Dominguez. | Peyton Stoike/Baltimore Orioles/GettyImages

The 2025 season didn't start the way many Baltimore Orioles had hoped. That includes reliever Seranthony Dominguez.

The right-hander, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at last year's trade deadline, was cruising through his first nine appearances of the year, but hit a road bump in the 10th. In that inning-plus of work, Dominguez allowed three earned runs. That outing snowballed.

In the 10 appearances following that three-run misstep, the flamethrower allowed nine earned runs, walking six and surrendering three long balls while striking out just nine. He saw his ERA balloon to 6.00.

However, something important happened in that tenth outing: Dominguez threw seven splitters, according to MLB's Research Tool. He had only thrown that pitch a total of 16 times in his previous 19 games.

Seranthony Dominguez is finding success with a redefined pitch mix

The splitter has seen its usage grow, and Dominguez's numbers have reflected its effectiveness. In his last five games, he threw the pitch 15 times. All in all, Dominguez hasn't allowed a run in over five innings of work, striking out 10 and walking just one.

Taking a look at his arsenal as a whole, the splitter's plus-two run value, according to Statcast, is the best of any of Dominguez's offerings, even exceeding his usually reliable sweeper and sinker. According to Statcast, opposing hitters have a .068 batting average against the pitch with a whiff rate close to 70 percent. If that number holds for the remainder of the season, it would be the highest whiff rate of any pitch in his seven-year career.

Dominguez's June 4 outing in Seattle featured the splitter five times, according to MLB's Research Tool. The results of those five pitches were as follows: swinging strike, strikeout, called strike, swinging strike, strikeout. Five pitches, five strikes, two punchouts. That plays.

As the right-hander grows more confident in the pitch, its usage rate will surely continue to climb. And for a reliever that can already beat you with velocity, a devastating splitter is a great addition to Dominguez's arsenal.

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