Sean

Doolittle

It seems only fitting that Doolittle will transition to a coaching role with the Nationals just a few months after announcing his retirement following a pretty memorable 11-year career. The 37-year-old former reliever will reportedly serve as a bridge between Washington’s front office and pitching staff with a primary focus on strategy, mechanics and mental preparation.

Doolittle will walk away after a brilliant 11-year MLB career in which he amassed 3.20 ERA in 463 relief appearances with 112 saves between stops with the Athletics, Nationals, Reds, and Mariners. He earned two All-Star selections along the way and was a big part of the Nationals’ World Series title in 2019. He’s struggled with injury in recent years, including surgery for a partially-torn UCL in his elbow last summer. He was unable to make it back to the Nationals this season after suffering a setback with his knee in June, but Doolittle said in his statement Friday that he’ll put a bow on his playing career with “gratitude and a full heart.”

The 36-year-old southpaw is currently meeting with Nationals’ team doctors in Washington D.C. and will then travel to the club’s spring training facility in Florida to rehab. Once that’s done, he’s likely to head back to Triple-A Rochester where he’ll continue to get stretched out.

Good news for Doolittle, who is rehabbing from surgery last June to repair a partially-torn UCL in his left elbow. The 36-year-old has posted a 3.86 ERA and 10/2 K/BB ratio over seven innings between Single-A, High-A, and Double-A thus far. Barring any setbacks, he should be able to join the Nationals’ bullpen before the end of the month.

Doolittle kicked off his rehab assignment over the weekend with a scoreless inning for High-A Wilmington and will continue to bounce around Washington’s minor league system over the next few weeks. The veteran left-hander is working his way back from last year’s surgery to repair a partially-torn UCL in his left elbow and should be an option for the Nationals sometime in June.

The left-hander was pleased with the results from the session and his fastball velocity was similar to where it was back in 2022 before he tore the UCL in his left elbow. He’s going to require some minor league rehab appearances before he’s ready to return, but he could be an intriguing addition to the Nationals bullpen at some point in the month of May.

Doolittle underwent surgery last July to repair a partially-torn UCL in his left elbow, so the Nationals have slow-played it with him this spring. He has returned to Florida to continue throwing off flat ground and will progress from there. The 36-year-old stayed with the Nats on a minor league deal this past offseason and hopes to contribute at some point this year.

Doolittle hans’t experienced a setback in his recovery from last July’s surgery to repair a partially-torn UCL in his left elbow, but the Nationals have decided to slow him down a bit this spring to avoid any potential setbacks. The 36-year-old southpaw should be ready to contribute for the Nationals at some point this season.

The deal is official. Doolittle underwent an internal brace procedure back in July to repair a UCL tear in his left elbow and will compete for a spot on the Nationals’ Opening Day roster this spring. He was limited to just six relief appearances last year due to injury. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw has posted a strong 3.20 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 522/103 K/BB ratio across 450 2/3 innings (463 appearances) in the majors over 11 seasons since 2012.

Doolittle opted against undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery and had an internal brace procedure performed instead. The veteran lefty reliever is expected to be ready to pitch next spring.