Sean Doolittle is an All-Star!!

The 2018 MLB All-Star Game will have some Wahoo flavor to it as Virginia alum Sean Doolittle was selected to represent the Washington Nationals. Teams were announced Sunday night (July 8th) by the MLB, and Doolittle was chosen as one of the National League closers. This is Doolittle’s second All-Star Game appearance, with his only other participation coming in 2014 when he represented the Oakland Athletics for the American League.

“It means a lot. Getting selected to the All-Star Game is really a special honor. It’s really difficult to do, and for me, I think of where I was a year ago at this time. I hadn’t even been traded over here yet,” Doolittle told the media. “I wasn’t even the closer on that team, and now I get to represent this team and this city in front of these fans in the All-Star Game. It’s incredible. It really hasn’t sunk in yet, to be honest.”

Doolittle, who was traded to the Nats from the Athletics after the All-Star break last season, will join teammates Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer for the festivities. He’s clearly excited to represent his team in front of the hometown crowd:

On the mound, Doolittle is having a banner season. His 22 saves on the season so far is good for fourth in the NL, and he’s 22-of-23 when it comes to save opportunities (96%). He has the best save percentage out of any pitcher with at least 20 save attempts, and his strike-to-walk ratio is a ridiculously good 16.33.

Think about that for a second. He strikes out 16 batters for every walk issued. That’s INSANE.

His on base percentage (OBP) is a staggering .167, by far the best in the NL. He is holding opponents to a .134 average at the plate, and has given up just six earned runs all season. Long story short, he’s been incredible.

And he celebrated in true Sean Doolittle fashion:

Check out Sean in action as the game will be held at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, on July 17.