2016 Blue Jays Season Review: Matt Dominguez

By: Jay Blue and @JaysGirlEmily

Blue Jays From Away

Now that the season is over, the crew at Blue Jays from Away will take a look at the Blue Jays one by one and review how each player’s season went, whether he met expectations (or not) and look at how he fits into (what we think of) the Blue Jays’ plans going forward.

The Blue Jays picked up Matt Dominguez on a waiver claim from the Milwaukee Brewers at the end of the 2015 season. The 27-year-old third baseman racked up a lot of big league time early in his career with the Houston Astros (both in the NL and AL) and, after an outstanding start to his Houston career in 31 games in 2012, played full seasons as the starter in 2013 and 2014 with diminishing results.

Dominguez didn’t get into any games in 2015 but, as the most obvious fill-in for Josh Donaldson, he was kept on the Jays’ 40-man roster going into 2016. Dominguez had a solid start to the year in Buffalo, hitting .311/.333/.475 in 61 at-bats before he got the call to Toronto and promptly went 0-for-7 in three games at the end of April.

Sent back down to the Bisons, Dominguez kept plugging away, hitting .274/.333/.387 with three more home runs (in addition to the two he hit in April) and came back to the Blue Jays in early June. Things did not go well for Dominguez in his return to the majors as he went 0-for-4 and he was designated for assignment and optioned back to Buffalo. In September, he was designated for assignment again, getting sent outright to the minors and electing free agency at the end of the year.

While he had a (yes, I’ll say it again) solid year in Buffalo, hitting .269/.315/.421 and leading the club with 18 home runs, he was 0-for-11 with a walk in his 12 plate appearances with the Blue Jays.

Contract Status

Matt Dominguez elected to become a free agent after the World Series ended.

Emily Says

Matt Dominguez played in five games over two stints with the Jays this season. He had no hits and one walk in eleven plate appearances, striking out three times. His average was zero and his OBP was .083.

He also started two games and was used as a defensive replacement once, logging 20 innings at third base. He had seven putouts and four assists defensively.

Regular Season Grades

Jay: F
Emily: F