Matt Dominguez: The Hot Corner Heats Up

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"Matty Got 'Em Again!" - Bo Porter

     That Matt Dominguez is so hot right now. Acquired from the Marlins in the 2012 deal for Carlos Lee(yes seriously, Luhnow was able to acquire something with a pulse for the blubbering wale that was an aging Lee), 23 year old Matty D is the youngest Astros player with 14 or more home-runs in a season since Jeff Bagwell belted 15 in his rookie of the year campaign at the age of 23. Known for his superb ability with the glove, Dominguez has also exhibited a healthy amount of pop during his tenure with the Astros. Although some question his ability to remain an everyday player due to his low walk rate of 3.8%, as long as he maintains a modest average with a slugging north of .400, his elite caliber defense should entrench him as the third baseman of the near and foreseeable future. 

     I believe most fans are really sleeping on Matt Dominguez's ceiling. Indeed his walk rate is very low, but his K% isn't bad at all at around 15.6%, and that number is consistent throughout his tenure in the minors, therefore it's safe to assume it will stay in that region. He's only 23 still adjusting to major league pitching, he has plenty of time to refine his approach. The ability to deepen counts and increase OBP is more attainable to acquire than the ability to learn to drive the ball, which Matty D has already shown he can do. Although he favors the pull, Dominguez has shown the ability at times to let the ball travel, and isn't isolated to using one side of the field. His minor league average of .256 is more respectable than it looks considering a low BABIP. He may never hit .300, but he absolutely has the ability to live within the .250-.265 range assuming his BABIP reaches a higher, more standard fare major league average rate. Matty D should continue to develop power, and as he matures as a ballplayer look for his walk rate to climb to the 5-7% region. 

     Matty D's progress at the plate this year has been encouraging, but the one constant, and most valuable asset he owns continues to be the leather. Dominguez makes the difficult look routine, and the routine look effortless. The fielding bible gives him 8 defensive runs saved (DRS), thus far this year, and Baseball-Reference credits him with a defensive WAR (dWAR) of 1.2, a higher dWAR than that of David Wright, Adrian Beltre, and Evan Longoria. His defensive value simply can't be overstated. He's the slickest fielding third baseman Houston has seen since the late Ken Caminiti. 

     The Astros have been in search of the 3rd baseman of the future since former Astro great Morgan Ensberg sustained his injury in 2006, and was later traded 2007. In the words of Bo Porter in the video seen below, "He's growing up right before our eyes". Matt Dominguez will one day very soon be mentioned with the likes of great Astro third baseman such as Ken Caminiti, Doug Rader, and Morgan Ensberg. Look for Dominguez to be one of the cornerstones the Astros build around at the hot corner. Go 'Stros!