Seranthony Domínguez is pitching without much confidence right now, and it’s starting to cost the Chicago White Sox games.
For much of the season, it has been a high-wire act with Domínguez in the ninth inning, but it has now reached the point where even the White Sox broadcast sounds uneasy when he jogs in from the bullpen.
Domínguez has walked far too many hitters in high-leverage spots, struggled to keep the ball on the ground, and when he does find the strike zone, opponents have made him pay. While he is still racking up a healthy amount of strikeouts, all the traffic he allows on the basepaths has continued to haunt him time and time again, and as a result, he has converted only 12 of his 17 save opportunities.
A near 13% walk rate is only part of the problem. Having opponents square you up to the tune of an average 90 mph exit velocity and a 37 hard-hit rate are concerning numbers for any pitcher, let alone one entrusted with protecting leads at the end of games.
Domínguez’s Struggles Continue in the Ninth
After coming within one out of locking down a save Sunday, a two-out infield single by the Tigers quickly snowballed into three consecutive hits and another blown save. Domínguez was handed another chance Monday against the Cleveland Guardians and once again couldn’t protect the lead. After issuing a leadoff walk, he uncorked a wild pitch, then allowed a single and a double before recording an out, turning a 4-3 White Sox lead into a 5-4 deficit.
Despite the inconsistency this season, Will Venable has continued to trot him out as the White Sox primary closer. It’s not hard to understand why his leash has remained long; look no further than his two-year, $20 million contract the club handed him.
After losing an MLB-high 36 one-run games in 2025, with 24 blown saves playing a major role, stabilizing the back end of the bullpen became a priority for Chris Getz this offseason. While Domínguez had spent the bulk of his career as a setup man, he has all the tools to be an effective shutdown closer, which is why it’s understandable he was handed the keys to the ninth inning.
Despite some early warning signs, you really can’t blame the White Sox for wanting to stick with Domínguez, either. Not only are they investing $10 million a year in him, pulling him from the closer role early without an obvious alternative could have done more harm than good to his confidence.
But he is now at the point where his struggles clearly look like they are starting to wear on him. He throws the ball with no conviction, more often than not falling behind in the count on non-competitive pitches.
Where Do the White Sox Go From Here?
Closing games in the majors requires a different mentality, and the pressure only intensifies when those outs start carrying meaning in the standings. The White Sox are in the mix of a playoff race, and a 4.45 ERA and 1.34 WHIP out of your closer is not going to cut it.
So where do the White Sox go from here? On paper, the simplest answer would be a move to Grant Taylor in the closer role. Entering Monday, Domínguez had a 6.06 ERA in save situations compared to a 0.77 ERA in non-save situations, while Taylor has already shown steadier results in high-leverage moments, posting two saves with a 0.87 ERA in save situations and a 3.63 ERA in non-save opportunities.
However, much of that usage stems from Will Venable preferring to deploy Taylor in the highest-leverage moments of the game, whether that means snuffing out a developing threat or navigating the heart of the order. It’s a sound approach, and one that appears well-suited to Taylor’s skill set.
There’s also no telling how Taylor would handle the ninth inning consistently, given he’s only logged a six-inning sample in save situations this season. He’s allowed four runs over his last two relief outings and has given up a home run in two of his last three appearances, hardly an ideal stretch to justify moving him into the closer role right now.
Bryan Hudson would be another logical candidate on paper, given that he has already recorded three saves and has been one of the White Sox most effective relievers. Hudson owns a 2.19 ERA on the year, generates a healthy number of ground balls, and has limited hard contact.
No Clear Answer in the Ninth Inning
Once again, though, the same question lingers: he doesn’t have much experience closing, and there’s no real way to know whether he can handle the demands of the ninth inning consistently. If Domínguez’s tenuous hold on the closer role is any indication, pure stuff alone isn’t enough to guarantee success in the ninth inning.
But with no bona fide closer on the roster, the White Sox are left in a difficult spot. They can cycle through options like Hudson and Taylor in the ninth, but with just one game separating them from Cleveland in the AL Central and both the Twins and Tigers starting to show signs of life, this isn’t the ideal time for experimentation.
The other option is to explore the trade market for a closer. Still, with few teams clearly positioned as sellers and limited high-end arms available, any impact acquisition would come at a steep price. The White Sox also don’t appear to be one closer away from true World Series contention, which makes it difficult to justify parting with top prospects for a short-term fix.
One thing is certain: Domínguez’s leash as the closer has stretched long enough, and regardless of what direction the White Sox choose, it’s time to consider a different role for him in the bullpen.
