CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Seranthony Domínguez repeated the words, like his own Spring Training mantra.

“I’m not thinking about the past,” he said a few times during Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Pirates in a Grapefruit League game at Spectrum Field.

If he wants to be successful, he said he needs to focus on the present and future. But 2018 was a pretty good year for Dominguez, as he posted a 2.95 ERA and struck out 74 batters in 58 innings. He pitched so well as a rookie that the Phillies consider him part of Gabe Kapler’s three-headed, late-inning bullpen monster. Kapler expects to mix and match Dominguez with David Robertson and Héctor Neris to pick up critical outs late in games.

“When Seranthony is at his best, there may not be a better reliever in baseball,” Kapler said. “In fairness, I can say if Hector Neris is at his best -- and we saw this last year -- there wasn’t a better reliever in baseball for a two-month stretch, and I think you can say the same about David Robertson. We’ve got some pretty good weapons down there.

“Focusing on Seranthony, he has no ceiling. He can be as good as anyone in the league.”

Dominguez learned a few things last year. He tired down the stretch. Specifically, he tired pitching on no rest. Dominguez allowed 11 hits, eight runs, 10 walks and struck out 19 in 12 innings on no rest. He allowed 21 hits, 11 runs, 12 walks and struck out 55 in 46 innings with at least one day of rest.

“This year, I have more experience coming out of the bullpen,” Dominguez said. “I feel that this year I can just take better care of my arm. If I go into the trainer’s room and do arm care, I can try to save my pitches, not throw too much, that can definitely help.”

Kapler said they will closely monitor Dominguez’s workload, but he said it should be easier anyway.

“It got to a place last year when he was at his best and we were playing our best baseball where we couldn’t wait to get to him,” Kapler said. “I think this year between Tommy [Hunter], a healthier Pat Neshek, Robertson, Neris, Adam Morgan --- all these guys, with just a tiny bit of improvement, it’s like we’ve got weapon after weapon after weapon and, yes, that could lead to us being less reliant on Seranthony, even if he’s at his best.”

De Los Santos shines in debut

The Phillies failed to sign free-agent left-handers Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ this offseason, meaning they will lean more on their young starting pitching. Right-hander Enyel De Los Santos is part of the Phillies’ Triple-A depth. He struck out four batters in two scoreless innings in his spring debut. He got two strikeouts on fastballs and one each on his slider and changeup.

The Phillies could make De Los Santos a reliever at some point, but he is expected to start in Triple-A.

“We saw the 95 and 96 today,” Kapler said. “What I think is interesting is the combination of deception and that velocity.”

Pirates 3, Phillies 2

-- Shortstop Jean Segura doubled to right field in his first plate appearance with the Phillies. Rhys Hoskins also doubled.

-- Phillies pitchers struck out 11 and walked one.

-- Outfielder Dylan Cozens went 2-for-2 with two doubles. He walked twice and stole a base Friday against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.

-- Matt McBride homered to left-center field to cut the Pirates’ lead to one.

Up next

The Phillies travel to Lakeland, Fla., on Sunday to play the Tigers in a Grapefruit League game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Phillies right-hander Drew Anderson starts against Tigers right-hander Tyson Ross.