The Washington Nationals are bringing back two-time Major League Baseball All-Star Sean Doolittle. However, he won’t be taking the mound like he did in ten MLB seasons. Instead, he will return to the squad as a pitching strategist.
Doolittle spent five seasons over two stints as the Nationals’ closing pitcher. He was a part of the 2019 World Series-winning team and led the National League with 55 games finished. He had a 4.05 earned run average that year, striking out 66 batters in 60 innings and completing a career-high 29 saves.
it's Coach DOOOOOOOOOO to you pic.twitter.com/Ate9r00CKQ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 16, 2024
The year before, he had a career-best 1.60 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 25 saves in 45 innings. Those numbers earned him his second All-Star selection.
Doolittle made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2012, getting one save and striking out 60 batters in 47.1 innings. Two years later, he earned his first All-Star nod after getting a career-high 89 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.
After playing six seasons for Oakland, the Athletics traded him and Ryan Madson to the Nationals for Sheldon Neuse, Blake Treinen, and Jesus Lazardo.
He became a free agent after the 2020 season and signed with the Cincinnati Reds. Doolittle was due for reassignment in August 2021, but the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers.
The South Dakota native re-signed with the Nationals for the 2022 MLB season. However, he underwent a season-ending elbow surgery, leading him to re-sign a minor league contract.
Sean Doolittle officially retired from professional baseball on September 22, 2023. A year later, he gets to stay close to the game he loves by mentoring the next generation of Nationals pitchers.
-Lance Fernandez