Sean Doolittle - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Washington Nationals hire Sean Doolittle as a pitching strategist

Former Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle has been hired by the club as a pitching strategist.

JANUARY 16, 2024 • FOX SPORTS

Washington Nationals hire Sean Doolittle as a pitching strategist

Nationals' Sean Doolittle retiring after more than a decade in the majors

World Series champion pitcher Sean Doolittle has decided to retire from baseball after more than a decade in the majors.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Nationals' Sean Doolittle retiring after more than a decade in the majors

Announces retirement from baseball Doolittle announced his retirement from baseball Friday.

Impact Doolittle didn't pitch much the last two seasons due to elbow surgery and more recently a knee injury. The soon-to-be 37-year-old is closing the book on what has been a fine career, though, as he finishes with a 3.20 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 522:103 K:BB over 450.2 relief innings across parts of 11 major-league seasons. Doolittle recorded 112 saves, made two All-Star teams and won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Diagnosed with knee strain Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced Friday that Doolittle has been diagnosed with a patellar tendon strain in his right knee, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact That explains why Doolittle was suddenly placed on the injured list Wednesday at Triple-A Rochester, just as he was seemingly nearing the end of his recovery from July 2022 elbow surgery. The veteran reliever will be shut down for the next 7-to-10 days and there is no longer a timetable for his 2023 major-league debut.

JUNE 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on minor-league IL Doolittle (elbow) was placed on the 7-day injured list Wednesday at Triple-A Rochester, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Doolittle looked to be nearing his season debut with the Nationals, but he seems to have suffered a setback in his recovery from July 2022 surgery to repair a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow. Rochester has yet to provide an exact diagnosis of what led to this latest IL stint.

JUNE 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moving up to Triple-A Doolittle (elbow) has been transferred from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Rochester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Doolittle holds a 3.86 ERA and 10:2 K:BB over seven innings across seven appearances so far in the minors as he works his way back from an internal brace procedure on his pitching elbow. The veteran reliever shouldn't need too many outings with Rochester before joining the Nationals' bullpen.

JUNE 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Activated off minor-league IL Doolittle (elbow) was activated Tuesday off the minor-league injured list, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact It's mostly a procedural move as Doolittle continues to make rehab appearances with different affiliates in the Nationals' farm system. He is joining Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday after allowing one run over 2.2 innings (three appearances) between Low-A Fredericksburg and High-A Wilmington. The veteran left-hander is 11 months removed from UCL (elbow) surgery and could get the call to Washington after just a few more outings on the farm.

JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Going back-to-back in minors Doolittle (elbow) is scheduled to pitch Friday with Double-A Harrisburg, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact This will mark the first string of back-to-back appearances for Doolittle, who worked a 1-2-3 inning Thursday night with Low-A Fredericksburg. The veteran southpaw could be a consideration for the Nationals' bullpen by early next week as he nears the end of his recovery from July 2022 surgery to repair a partial UCL tear in his left elbow.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moving affiliates on rehab Doolittle (elbow) had his rehab assignment transferred Tuesday from High-A Wilmington to Low-A Fredericksburg, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact This is not a demotion, as Zuckerman notes, but merely a case of Doolittle moving around between the Nationals' lower-level minor-league affiliates and pitching for whichever team has a string of home games. He should eventually rise to Triple-A Rochester to complete his rehab stint. The veteran lefty reliever required surgery last July to repair a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kicks off rehab assignment Doolittle (elbow) began a rehab assignment at High-A Wilmington on Saturday and struck out two while allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of relief.

Impact The rehab appearance was Doolittle's first in a competitive game since April 2022, as the veteran southpaw had been shut down with an elbow injury before ultimately undergoing surgery last July. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Doolittle's fastball was clocked at around 92 miles per hour, just a tick below his average from the early part of the 2022 season (93.4 mph). He's scheduled to make his next rehab appearance Tuesday and will likely make several appearances in the minors before the Nationals entertain a potential promotion. Doolittle re-signed with Washington on a minor-league deal in the offseason, so he currently resides on Triple-A Rochester's 7-day injured list and doesn't count toward the Nationals' 40-man roster.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Doing back-to-backs in FL Doolittle (elbow) has begun doing back-to-back mound sessions at the Nationals' spring training complex in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Impact Doolittle has been sitting in the 88-92 mph range with his fastball, per Zuckerman, which is actually a marked improvement over where he was a month ago when he first started throwing off a mound. The veteran southpaw could soon be cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment, though there remains no timetable for his return to the Nationals' bullpen. He required surgery last July to repair a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws live batting practice Doolittle (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday at the Nationals' spring training complex, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Impact Doolittle got up to around 20 pitches and Nationals manager Dave Martinez relayed that the veteran reliever reported feeling "really good." He appears on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment before the end of April and could then join the Nats sometime in early May. Doolittle is recovering from surgery last July to repair a partial tear of the UCL in his left elbow.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Washington Doolittle (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Sunday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Dan Kolko of MASN Sports reports.

Impact As Kolko notes, this contract will allow Doolittle to remain with the organization while rehabbing from UCL surgery, a procedure he underwent in July. The surgery carries a 5-to-6-month timetable for recovery, so if all goes well, he could be back on the bump in time for spring training.

NOVEMBER 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals bring 4-game losing streak into matchup against the Mets

The Washington Nationals head into the matchup with the New York Mets as losers of four straight games

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • Associated Press

Mets look to stop 3-game skid, play the Nationals

The New York Mets look to break a three-game losing streak when they play the Washington Nationals

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • Associated Press

Nationals visit the Mets for season opener

The New York Mets host the Washington Nationals for the season opener

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • Associated Press

Phillies face the Nationals with 2-1 series lead

The Philadelphia Phillies meet the Washington Nationals with a 2-1 series lead

OCTOBER 2, 2022 • Associated Press

Sean Doolittle is hoping for a 'do-over' with the Nationals Doolittle is tentatively scheduled to start throwing in the third week of October, slightly ahead of when he would in a normal offseason.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Braves try to extend road win streak in matchup with the Nationals

The Atlanta Braves visit the Washington Nationals trying to extend a three-game road winning streak

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 • Associated Press

Braves visit the Nationals to begin 3-game series

The Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves to begin a three-game series

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 • Associated Press

Marlins face the Nationals leading series 1-0

The Miami Marlins lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • Associated Press

Marlins begin 3-game series against the Nationals

The Miami Marlins host the Washington Nationals to begin a three-game series

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • Associated Press

Nationals look to end skid in game against the Braves

The Washington Nationals enter the matchup against the Atlanta Braves as losers of three in a row

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • Associated Press

Meneses leads Nationals against the Braves after 4-hit outing

The Washington Nationals take on the Atlanta Braves after Joey Meneses had four hits on Monday in a 5-2 loss to the Braves

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 • Associated Press

Nationals take road slide into matchup against the Braves

The Washington Nationals will look to break their three-game road losing streak in a matchup against the Atlanta Braves

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 • Associated Press

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