Nationals' Sean Doolittle elects to have season-ending UCL surgery

Washington Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle has elected to undergo an internal brace procedure to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, according to MASN Sports’ Mark Zuckerman. The procedure effectively ends the 35-year old veteran’s season.

Doolittle is expected to be out five-to-six months. The recovery time frame is much shorter than the 12-to-18 months for Tommy John surgery. Doolittle expects to be ready for next year’s spring training.

“I’m not going out like this,” Doolittle said, per MASN’s Dan Kolko.

Doolittle last pitched on April 19 before being placed on the injured list with an elbow sprain. He rehabbed the injury for three months but was always aware of the option for surgery. When elbow soreness returned he decided to go for the less-invasive procedure, according to Zuckerman.

Doolittle returned to the Nationals for his second stint with the club after spending the 2021 season between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. He spent four seasons with the Nationals during his first stint, including 2019 when the club claimed its first World Series title.

During that 2019 season, he finished 55 games, recording 29 saves. During that postseason, He made nine appearances, including three scoreless appearances in the World Series. He also played with the Oakland Athletics for six seasons.

This season, Doolittle made six appearances. He was on to a great start, allowing no runs and just one hit in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six in the process.

Doolittle will be an unrestricted free agent next winter. Despite the Nationals faced with a rebuild, his strong play before his injury, could lend another return to Washington in 2023.