Sean Doolittle

Sean Robert Doolittle (born September 26, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals.

He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 39th round of the 2004 draft but did not sign.

Doolittle played for the University of Virginia as both a starting pitcher and first baseman.

He formerly held the record for wins in a career for a Virginia pitcher — 22 — which has since been passed by Danny Hultzen.

In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

In 2005 and 2006, Doolittle was named to the USA National (Collegiate) Baseball Team.

The Athletics selected Doolittle in the first round in the 2007 MLB draft, as a first baseman and outfielder.

The Oakland Athletics selected Doolittle in the first round, with the 41st overall selection, in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft as a first baseman and outfielder.

He made his professional debut on June 18, 2007, and was expected to make his major league debut in 2009.

Despite being injured for most of the 2009 season, Doolittle was ranked tenth in Oakland's farm system according to Baseball America.

Doolittle missed the entire 2010 season while rehabbing from two knee surgeries.

In the 2011 offseason, he was placed on Oakland's 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.

After missing more than two years, Doolittle converted back to pitching, making his professional pitching debut in the instructional league in Arizona in 2011.

He made his MLB debut in 2012 as a pitcher.

After pitching just 26 professional innings, 25 of those at three minor league stops in 2012, Doolittle was called up to the majors on June 5, 2012, against the Texas Rangers pitching one and a third inning while striking out three with all fastballs and none going below 94 mph. He quickly became a key bullpen piece as the top lefty specialist earning his first career save on July 21 against the New York Yankees.

He served as a set-up man for A's closer Grant Balfour the rest of the way as Oakland went on to win the AL West on the final day of the season.

He was an All-Star in 2014 and 2018.

Doolittle grew up in Tabernacle Township, New Jersey.

He lived close to the baseball field and often went there to practice.

He played Babe Ruth Baseball as a pitcher.

Doolittle attended Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey, where he was a stand-out pitcher.

Doolittle led Shawnee to a state championship.

Doolittle signed a five-year, $10.5 million extension with the Athletics on April 18, 2014.

Doolittle and righty Luke Gregerson entered the regular season as late-inning setup pitchers for new closer Jim Johnson.

However, after an abysmal April, Johnson was removed from the exclusive closing role.

Doolittle, Gregerson and Johnson spent the next three weeks pitching under closer by committee.

Doolittle was ultimately named A's closer on May 20.

Doolittle was one of six A's players named to the 2014 American League All-Star Team; he faced three batters late in the game – striking out two.

Doolittle began the 2015 season on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury.

Sean Doolittle Gnome Day was April 30, 2016.

The first 15,000 fans received a Doolittle Gnome which plays a brief Metallica sound, Doolittle's entry music.

While on rehab assignment with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Doolittle pitched the seventh inning of a combined no-hitter against the Omaha Storm Chasers on June 7, 2017.

Starter Chris Smith pitched the first six innings and was then followed by Doolittle, Tucker Healy, and Simón Castro who each pitched one inning.

On July 16, 2017, Doolittle was traded to the Washington Nationals, along with Ryan Madson, for Blake Treinen, Sheldon Neuse, and Jesús Luzardo.

On July 18, Doolittle recorded his first save for the Nationals in a 4–3 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

In 30 games for the Nationals, he was 1–0 with a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings and was 21-for-22 in save opportunities.

For the 2018 season, he was named closer to begin the season and up until July 11, he was 22-for-23 in save opportunities before falling to the disabled list with a left toe inflammation.

He was activated off the disabled list on September 7.

He won the 2019 World Series with the Nationals, earning a save in game one.