Former UBC Thunderbird and Okotoks Dawgs RHP Vicarte (Vancouver, BC) is at class-A Lake Elsinore.

San Diego Padres Vicarte Domingo, has the ability to be a high-leverage pitcher out of the bullpen. In time, he could blossom into a top prospect for the Padres.

June 20, 2025

By James Clark III

East Village Times

Canadian right-handed pitcher Vicarte “Vic” Domingo is in Lake Elsinore and excited to be a pro ball player.

Not too long ago, these dreams seemed unattainable to the Domingo (Vancouver, BC), 22.

“A year ago, I was not sure if the pro ball scene was something that was real for me,” Domingo told EVT in Lake Elsinore. “Slowly, as the season came to an end at UBC (University of British Columbia), I kept pitching better. I pitched really well in the end, and the coaches put in a lot of work for me to be seen by the right people.”

His velocity ticked up on the fastball, and after a slow start to the 2024 collegiate season, Domingo ended the year pitching excellently. There were some teams who showed interest in the young pitcher, but the Padres were front and centre in courting Domingo.

“I got the right eyes on me and got invited to a Padres’ workout. Then literally the next week I got drafted,” Domingo said with a smile.

The Padres called him around July 2, and by the 15th, he was selected in the 19th round.

“It was crazy the way the draft worked out for me,” Domingo said. “They called earlier, and I wanted to get my school paid for. They weren’t sure if they could do that. They told me they would get back to me, and then they didn’t get back to me for a few hours. I thought I screwed myself out of the draft. Luckily, they called me back and said they were still very interested. Everything worked out for me.”

He explained completing his college education was critical to him, and the Padres covering it was a weight lifted off his shoulders.

Being a member of the Padres organization has been excellent for this young pitcher. He’s enjoying every moment of it as he matures in the game.

“It has been unbelievable being part of this organization—all the support, the staff is rooting for you,” Domingo said.

He discussed the philosophy within the organization and how his coaches are supporting him in numerous ways, not simply on the mound.

As a Canadian, Domingo takes great pride in representing his nation.

“I love being different and being from Canada,” he said. “A lot of people overlook Canada when it comes to baseball.”

Domingo enjoys the brotherhood of Canadian players, and we discussed several in the majors, including the Naylor brothers. Growing up in Canada, baseball is not an automatic thing.

“If you asked me in third grade, I would’ve told you I was going to be a hockey player, not a ball player,” Domingo said.

His first passion, like most Canadians, is on the ice, but a trip to the 2014 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. flipped the script.

“We went 0-2, but it was unreal. That was really the turning point for me, that I wanted to play ball … You feel like a big leaguer there,” he said.

Domingo loved his time at the World Series. His dad was the coach of that team, and the two undoubtedly share some core memories that will last a lifetime. Domingo will always remember how innocent the game was back then. These memories will help guide him when the game gets tough.

The World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place next spring. Domingo spoke more about Canada and expressed his desire to pitch for the team in the event. He described it as a goal, and with a bit of luck, it is not out of the realm of possibility.

“It would be cool if I even got a sniff to go to the camp,” Domingo said. “Just to be around those guys. It is cool watching those guys do their thing.”

Representing his country is a dream for this Canadian pitcher. He loves that baseball is growing in his hometown, saying with pride: “Now, where I came from, baseball is huge.”

The fact that he wants to represent his nation and continue to grow the sport is admirable. He speaks about the kids in the area where he is from and how fulfilling it is to go back home adding “that is very important to me. When I can, I go back and talk to them. Tell them that you can make it. I am not the biggest guy. If you work hard and love what you do, you can do it.”

Domingo is a power pitcher. At 5-foot-10, he gets significant leverage from his lower half. The increase in velocity this past year is the tip of the iceberg. There is still room for growth in his fastball, which is intriguing. It will surely come in time. In describing his stuff, Domingo describes the heater as his best pitch. It is his bread and butter.

“That is the biggest reason I am here,” said Domingo. “By the end of my last year at UBC, I was anywhere from 93 to 96 mph. At the workout, I was at like 93-96 as well. Recently, I have been reaching 92-95 mph, which is okay for me because it’s more about the advanced metrics on the fastball — the induced vertical break. The older people would call it late life.”

This young pitcher is all about the analytical side of the game. He digests the information and utilizes it to improve the movement on all his pitches. When asked about analytics and if he uses them, his answer was direct:

“Absolutely. That is one of the things I look at. That is what I look forward to after the game. Especially, if things don’t go my way,” he said and is committed to continually improving and enhancing his skills. You like to see that from a young pitcher.

When speaking more about what he was specifically working on, Domingo was upfront saying he has “been working on my slider. I refined it quite a bit. It used to be really sweepy, but it’s more of a harder gyro-type pitch. I am creating deception off my fastball,” he said.

He also throws a cut fastball, which helps the young hurler in difficult situations. “My cutter is something I have relied heavily on when I am down in counts,” Domingo said, “because I throw fastballs at a high percentage, it is a good way to keep them off it.”

Domingo during the 2022 season with the Kamloops Northpaws

Domingo is certainly a fastball pitcher. His heater is what intrigues scouts the most. But he is not a one-trick pony.

“In college, my changeup was my second-best pitch. I have thrown a lot fewer here because I haven’t had to use the pitch. Recently, I have been getting a lot of whiffs on it,” Domingo said.

The Cal League is the lowest division of minor league ball. Typically, if you have a fastball in the mid-90s, that is all you need to get results.

Of course, throwing hard is nice, but you need to have control and proper mechanics to truly succeed and graduate from California. Domingo knows that.

“The biggest thing for me in increasing my development is being in the strike zone with all my pitches,” said Domingo, who at the beginning of the year struggled to pound the zone.

A talk with his manager, Brian Burres, helped him clear his mind. The two of them spoke about pitching and the nuances of the craft. Domingo is focused on improvement and should navigate his way through the system. His current manager pitched at the major league level. He can assist the young pitcher.

“Be where your feet are and attack the zone.”

Domingo provided this quote, which exemplifies him perfectly at the moment. The game was getting too mental for him at times. His focus is on the present (where his feet are now) and not allowing things that are out of his control to dictate his thought process. His stuff plays if he throws strikes. The quote succinctly states the essence in nine words. Domingo is focused on being better.

This young pitcher is passionate about the game. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I am a very emotional pitcher. At times, it is good. At times, it can hinder your performance. The one thing I tell myself is to execute. It doesn’t matter what happened before. Just the next pitch,” Domingo said.

He is aware that his command needs to improve. At the age of 22, there is still room for development in this future high-leverage reliever.

Thus far, Domingo owns a 5.06 ERA, an 0-1 record and a 1.500 WHIP in 19 games and 32 innings pitched. He has struck out 45 in that time and saved three games for the Storm, showcasing a great ability. But he also has 22 walks in that span. His early struggles in his career are well rationalized by this young pitcher, who has every intention of improving.

“I am thankful that I battle through struggles now instead of breezing through the lower levels and struggling at the high levels and being in a world of hurt,” Domingo said. “Now, I have been through it and I’m ready to put my best foot forward,”

Clark: UBC's Domingo heating up for Padres’ Lake Elsinore affiliate