June 8, 2007

Marlins take 3B Dominguez in first round of draft

BY TIM REYNOLDS

MIAMI -- Pitchers usually command the Florida Marlins' attention on draft day. Matt Dominguez made them change their thinking.

Dominguez, a third baseman from Chatsworth (Calif.) High near Los Angeles, went to the Marlins with the 12th overall pick in Thursday's baseball draft. It's the first time Florida has used its first choice on a position player since taking Jeremy Hermida - now the team's right fielder - 11th overall in 2002.

"They're pretty loaded with pitchers in the minors," Dominguez said. "My bat and my glove stick right into what they needed. I guess I got lucky, so they picked me."

It was a big day for Chatsworth High; another infielder, power-hitting shortstop Mike Moustakas, went No. 2 overall to the Kansas City Royals. And both moves probably pleased a certain Chatsworth alum; Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest was an All-City player for the school in 1981 and 1982.

Dominguez signed a letter of intent to attend Cal State Fullerton, but will almost certainly choose the Marlins instead. He's expected to get a signing bonus in the range of $1.6 million.

"It's pretty amazing," said Dominguez, who doesn't turn 18 until August. "Cal State Fullerton is a great program ... but I think I'm looking to go to the professional level. Just looking forward to it."

Dominguez was a four-time All-City selection and hit .443 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs as a senior.

"We're very delighted and I couldn't be happier," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told the 17-year-old shortly after he was selected.

The Marlins already have a star third baseman in Miguel Cabrera, who's only 24 years old. Dominguez said if the Marlins want him to play another position someday because Cabrera is at third, he's fine with that.

"I'm going to try to do my best and work my hardest to move up there as fast as I can," he said.

Dominguez said his agent is his uncle, Gus Dominguez, who was convicted in April of smuggling five Cuban baseball players into the United States and faces sentencing in July.

The Marlins had used six first-round selections on pitchers since 2003, and have made little secret in past drafts on that being the position of emphasis for the organization.

"All along, we thought he was a viable candidate for us," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins' assistant general manager. "We're very excited. He's a very polished, complete third baseman - which is unusual. Generally, these guys are more bat, but this guy has a bat and an extremely good glove."

The Marlins' trend of taking position players continued into the fourth round; they chose outfielder Michael Stanton of Notre Dame High in Sunland, Calif. in the second round (76th overall), catcher Jameson Smith of Fresno (Calif.) Community College in the third round (106th overall) and outfielder Bryan Peterson of UC Irvine in the fourth round (136th overall).

Florida's fifth-round pick was right-handed pitcher Steven Cishek of East Falmouth, Mass.

"It was a little out of character for us to take position players with our first four picks, but these are all players that we really liked," Fleming said. "These four hitters are a great fit with our system, which is in need of additional offense."