Marlins’ top prospect Dominguez bounces back from elbow injury

Entering spring training, Matt Dominguez, the Marlins' top prospect, was the front-runner to open the regular season as Florida's starting third baseman.

But after batting .190 (8-for-42), the 21-year-old defensive whiz was sent to Triple-A New Orleans.

"(The Marlins) told me, 'We're going to give you every opportunity to make the team,'" said Dominguez, the 12th overall pick in the 2007 draft. "I didn't play too well, but they had positive things to say to me -- just come here, work on things, get better and hopefully get back up there."

Dominguez's Triple-A debut was delayed for six weeks when he suffered a fractured left elbow after getting hit by a pitch March 31 in the Zephyrs' final spring game.

"Stuff happens, but it was tough having to deal with that, going through almost two months of spring training and then have a setback like that," he said. "But it gets you mentally tough."

Dominguez, a native of Los Angeles, went 2-for-3 with a two-run double for New Orleans in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to Las Vegas at Cashman Field. He's batting .259 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs in 76 games.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound right-handed hitter had his third four-hit game of the season Sunday, when he homered and had three RBIs in the Zephyrs' 17-9 win over the 51s. He added two hits in Monday's 12-4 loss and is batting .382 (13-for-34) in August.

"He's made huge strides at the plate. That was the only thing holding him back," New Orleans manager Greg Norton said. "He's pretty much a Gold Glove third baseman at the big league level right now. He's got great footwork and really soft hands. You just need to hit to be a corner (infielder) up there."

Dominguez, who batted .252 with 14 homers and 81 RBIs for Double-A Jacksonville last season, is confident he can hit well enough to excel in the majors.

"I know in the back of my head I'm going to be a pretty good hitter," he said. "I'm feeling really good right now. I'm getting good timing, I'm staying back on the ball and I'm seeing it well."

Dominguez set a California state record for RBIs by a freshman with 65 in 2004, when he was named the state's freshman of the year. He finished his prep career at Chatsworth High School with 188 RBIs, the second-most in state history.

Baseball America dubbed Dominguez the "Best Defensive Third Baseman" in the Class-A Florida State League in 2009, and last year he was named Most Valuable Player of the Southern League All-Star Game after going 3-for-4 with two homers.

Dominguez, whose mother, brother and grandmother live in Summerlin and have attended each of his games here, is still adjusting to the tougher pitching in Triple A.

"Down in Double A, the guys are a little younger and have good arms, but they don't know exactly how to pitch yet," he said. "Here, pitchers attack your holes and try to find your weaknesses and exploit them. A lot of guys have been to the big leagues. You've got to make constant adjustments, but it's a good learning process.

"I've been working hard at it, and things are finally starting to click."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.