Dominguez likely returning

After finishing the season with a .365 average, 21 home runs and 75 RBIs, Louisville sophomore third baseman Chris Dominguez was named Big East co-Player of the Year and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. Thursday night coach Dan McDonnell said Dominguez will likely return to Louisvile for his junior season.

With the option of turning pro after his third season on campus, Dominguez has until August 15 to make his final decision, but McDonnell said the sophomore slugger told him he's coming back to school.

"All year long Chris made it clear that he wanted to go in the first few rounds," Louisville coach Dan McDonnell said last week. "Fifth is kind of on the back end. I know he was hoping for first through third (rounds) and that is what he had talked to the clubs about. Now whether there was more conversations since then, I don't know."

"We want what is best for Chris and we are proud of how much better he is doing in the classroom and how much better he got from each year," McDonnell said.

"This will be a big decision for he and his family," McDonnell said. "They won't just jump out on emotion and say 'Let's go play pro ball'."

The defending National League Champions tabbed the third-year sophomore from Miami with the 25th pick of the 5th round. The only unanimous selection to the 2008 All-BIG EAST First Team, Dominguez batted .365 with 68 runs, 13 doubles, a BIG EAST-leading 21 home runs and 75 RBI, stealing 11 bases while starting all 62 games at third on the BIG EAST Champions.

Dominguez is 10th on the career home run list with 36 in just two seasons in Louisville, and placed himself tied for 7th in single season home runs, tied for 8th in runs and tied for 6th with his 2008 total in RBI.

If Dominguez does not sign a contract with the Rockies before August 15, he would return to the Cardinals as a fourth-year junior.