Saying goodbye is hard.
And though it's not a definite goodbye between longtime reliever Sean Doolittle and the Washington Nationals, there's a very real possibility that he played his last season in the nation's capital. The nine-year veteran is an impending free agent who has never faced this situation before, and he even acknowledged that it feels a little bit weird.
"It's strange," Doolittle said (via Jessica Camerato of MLB.com). "It really is strange. I've never had this feeling really going into an offseason. It's a little bit exciting."
He also noted that, due to the pandemic, the changes that impacted MLB this season and other factors, there's a lot of uncertainty. And before all that uncertainty came into play and took up the full scope of Doolittle's attention, he wanted to make sure he gave his regards to his home over the past three-and-a-half years. But first, he had to return from a long Twitter hiatus in the most Sean Doolittle way possible.
In an emotional thread of messages, Doolittle spilled his heart out to the Nationals fan base and to the city of Washington, D.C.
Dear Nats Fans,
I know the 2020 season didn't go the way we all hoped it would, but I wanted to say thank you for all of the love and support you have given me during my time in DC. This year was especially challenging but, with support of my teammates and our staff, I learned a lot about myself as a player and as a person that will help me for the rest of my career. As difficult as it was, I'm grateful for the experience (bumpy roads, right?). If I knew how the 2020 season would go for me when I struck a Faustian bargain to be a part of a World Series championship, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I had no idea what to expect when I got traded to the Nats in July 2017. I was so nervous. I'd been to DC a few times but my nerd ass never made it past the free museums. Little did I know that a little over 2 years later I'd ride by them on the top of a double decker bus in a World Series parade. I'm well aware that I'm weird, a bit of an acquired taste - not for everyone. But you immediately welcomed my wife and me into your community. You made us feel very much at home here in the DC-Metro area.
DC will always hold a special place in our hearts. We got married here in 2017. We immersed ourselves in the District. We fell in love with the city. I'll always appreciate the special connection I had with the fans. This year wasn't the same without you. Getting our rings and raising the championship banner (that you helped us earn!) in an empty stadium was weird. Nats Park just didn't have the same energy without you cheering us on.
I don't know where this game will take us next, but I'm so grateful for the time I had with the Nationals organization and the fans here in Washington. It was a privilege to wear the curly W and play for you at Nats Park. Baseball is a small world, so I look forward to our paths crossing again soon. Thank you for everything.
Doolittle signed off with a peace sign emoji, his uniform number, and a reminder that the Nats are still the reigning World Series champs, no matter how their 2020 season ended. A photo later served as a great reminder of his high moments in DC.
Doolittle will obviously remain a fan favorite in DC wherever he goes, lightsaber and all. As of now, his Nationals career consists of a 3.03 ERA, 75 saves, 163 strikeouts in only 142.2 innings pitched, an All-Star selection and a World Series ring which his brilliant performance -- zero earned runs and only two hits in three innings pitched -- helped to seal.
Should he be part of the Nationals' future, fans will surely be happy to welcome him back with open arms. But if not, this poignant tweet serves as a great reminder of all he meant to the city, and how much the city meant to him.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter | Facebook I Instagram