During the winter months, Orioles relief pitchers Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto train together in their native country, the Dominican Republic, continuing a friendship they’ve built over the past three years. They, along with closer Félix Bautista, are a part of a unique trio: Baltimore is the only team in Major League Baseball with three Dominican Republic-born relief pitchers.
Bautista, Soto and Domínguez all hail from the Caribbean island and have formed a close relationship in Baltimore. By playing dominoes and billiards in the clubhouse, visiting malls on the road and eating at Daniela Restaurant, a Latin food establishment in Baltimore, the three have lessened the isolation that exists for Latin American-born players.
Take Bautista, for example; when he arrived in Baltimore in 2022, there were just two pitchers from Central America, Jorge López and Cionel Perez, who pitched in more than 10 games. The bullpen, which can already be an isolating place, becomes even more distant with a language barrier. Bautista has now built a strong connection with several relievers.
“It was a little difficult at first, not only because we didn’t have many Latin players, but also because I was starting my career, so I was trying to figure some things out and get comfortable,” Bautista said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Now it’s great, knowing how many Latin players we have, it’s a great feeling. And you can sense the harmony within the group.”
The Orioles, who once lacked a Latino presence, have four Dominican Republic-born players rostered this season.
“I didn’t know [we had the most]. If anything, it shows us that we’re doing something right, and we want to continue doing that not only for ourselves but for the guys that are coming after us,” Soto said through Quinones.
Players naturally gravitate toward teammates with similar backgrounds. For Bautista, that meant fraternizing with Soto and Domínguez when they were both traded from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024. Domínguez said that he’s had dinner with other players’ families.
Yennier Cano, who hails from Cuba but played in the Dominican Republic, is also included in the camaraderie. Bautista said that Cano has earned part-Dominican status.
The relievers pass time in the bullpen with contests and jokes. Right-hander Andrew Kittredge says that the unit plays a bocce-ball type game and tries to avoid talking about the ongoing Orioles game at all costs. Soto’s teammate in Detroit, José Cisnero, once jokingly tossed a water bottle and destroyed a television.
“We’ll tell stories or even as we say in Cuba, talk [crap],” Cano said through Quinones. “Even if we had a bad outing, we’ll talk about if we gave up a homer, ‘Damn, how’d I leave that slider there.’”
But there’s still a divide between the Spanish-speaking players and other pitchers. In the bullpen, Cano, Bautista, Soto and Domínguez sit together, while Kittredge, Bryan Baker, Keegan Akin and Scott Blewett convene.
Charlie Morton tries to lessen the disconnect by saying “Hi” to the Latin American pitchers everyday, while interim manager Tony Mansolino said that physical reminders of affection are important.
“There is a responsibility that we all have to break through those barriers. You just make small efforts on a daily basis to put yourself out there,” Morton said.
The club’s Latino presence has increased exponentially in recent years. The Orioles had only six Latin American-born players on their 40-man roster last season, which was half the league average. They had 12 in spring training this year.
They’ve formed another pocket within the Orioles’ clubhouse. The core of Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg rose through the organization together. Veteran pitchers such as Morton, Kittredge and Blewett often chat.
Now, the Latino players have bonded. Bautista said that it’s one of the funniest groups of teammates he’s been around.
“There’s no eagles that go around [alone]. So I would say [our relationship] is great,” Soto said.
A common topic is the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican-born players brag about the country’s win in 2013 to their Venezuelan and Puerto Rican-born teammates. Cano, because of the controversy surrounding Cuba’s involvement, stays out of any discussions, he said.
“It would be a dream to be able to pitch for [the Dominican Republic] one day in the classic, but we’re always gonna support our own country and thankfully the DR has one [title] already. But yeah, we talk about it pretty often,” Soto said.
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