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July 1, 2009

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Former University of Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez, a third round selection by San Francisco in the 2009 MLB Draft, has agreed to terms and signed a professional contract with the Giants, while former Cardinals' shortstop John Dao has signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

A native of Miami, Fla., Dominguez officially signed with San Francisco on June 24 after he was selected 86th overall by the Giants in the third round of the MLB Draft on June 9. He is currently with the Giants' rookie team in Arizona and is expected to report to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco's Class A Short-Season affiliate in the Northwest League, within a week.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Dao signed with the Reds after an impressive showing at an open tryout in Cincinnati and was added to the roster of the Billings Mustangs, the Reds' Class A affiliate in the Pioneer League, on June 22.

Dominguez is a two-time and reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year and was a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American selection by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in 2009. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Dominguez returned to the Cardinals for 2009 and delivered another impressive season as he matched a Louisville single season record with 25 home runs, finished with career highs in RBI (82) and stolen bases (19-of-25) and hit .345 overall.

After arriving in Louisville as one of the most highly regarded recruits in school history, Dominguez lived up to the hype leading the Cardinals to their most successful three-year stretch ever and setting numerous records along the way. Dominguez departs Louisville as the program's career leader in RBI with 218 and ranks second in home runs (61), second in runs scored (196), tied for sixth in hits (252), seventh in stolen bases (39), seventh in at bats (788) and 10th in doubles (45).

Dao played two seasons for the Cardinals after transferring from Northeast Texas Community College. He was voted one of the Cards' three team captains by his teammates prior to the 2009 season. After missing 10 games with a knee injury early in his senior season, he started 52 total games at shortstop and batted .245 overall. In his first season with the Louisville in 2008, Dao hit .356 with three home runs and 31 RBI.

The Cardinals closed out their 2009 season on Saturday with an NCAA Super Regional loss at No. 2 Cal State Fullerton. Louisville finished with a 47-18 record overall after sweeping the BIG EAST Conference regular season and tournament titles. U of L advanced to its second Super Regional in three years after earning a 5-3 win over Vanderbilt in the title game of the NCAA Regional at Jim Patterson Stadium, the first ever NCAA Baseball Regional in Louisville.