RADIO
Sean Doolittle will begin a rehab assignment later this week as the Oakland Athletics’ closer gets closer to making his 2015 debut.
The 28-year-old left-hander was given an opportunity to take the reigns as the closer in 2014 and he did just that. Doolittle converted 22 of 26 save opportunities last season. In 2015, he has been dealing with a shoulder strain that has forced him to miss more than the first month of the 2015 season.
The Athletics confirmed a CSN California report that Doolittle will face hitters again Monday before beginning the assignment. Doolittle faced hitters for the first time Friday, and is expected to increase his pitch count in his second time around, according to the report.
“The hardest thing is I want to help so bad and I feel so close — but so far,” Doolittle told SFgate.com Tuesday. “The training staff has done a great job of sticking to their guns with the plan they set out a long time ago, because I catch myself getting antsy and begging to push the envelope and they haven’t budged. That’s good. They keep reminding me if we do this right, I won’t have to deal with this again, and it won’t be a chronic issue.”
Former all-star Tyler Clippard has filled in as the closer for the A’s, converting on three of four save-opportunities.
Oakland has struggled overall as a pitching staff as it is near the bottom in ERA (4.18 ERA). It’s unclear whether Doolittle will close right away, but his arm will add a much-needed depth to the A’s bullpen and he should eventually find his way back into the closer role..
