In a span of two months, left-handed relief-pitcher Sean Doolittle has worked his way from Single-A with the Stockton Ports, to Double-A with the Midland Rockhounds, to Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats -- all the way to the Major Leagues, with the Oakland A's. It took him just 16 games. Doolittle's path the the show wasn't always that easy. Before he had the eye popping pitching stats -- 48 strikeouts and only two earned runs in 25 innings pitched -- he was a first baseman, struggling to stay healthy. Doolittle was drafted in 2007 as a first basemanoutfielder. In 2008 with Stockton and Midland, he hit .286 with 22 homers and 91 RBIs. He appeared to be a promising power hitter for the A's organization.Then injuries got in his way. After battling with knee and wrist issues, A's director of player development Keith Lippman presented the idea of giving him a shot as a pitcher. "I was almost at the end of my rope with all the injuries and stuff," Doolittle told me on Tuesday. "Keith Lippman ended up talking to Billy Beane and David Forst about it, and a week later I was a pitcher." Doolittle pitched at the University of Virginia, so pitching was his built in insurance plan. A plan that has clearly paid off.
Doolittle had a 14-4 record and 2.12 ERA in 40 career appearances at Virginia, showing impressive control with a 174-37 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Left-handed pitcher Jordan Norberto is missing from the A's lineup card. I am waiting on confirmation that he was either placed on the disabled list or sent down. I'll have more updates shortly.
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