 |
|
Sean O'Sullivan pitched
the first
9-inning no-hiiter in the history of
the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees.
Courtesy, The Deseret News
|
Deseret News coverage
HERE
|
O'Sullivan recalled
to L.A. Angels
(8-5-09) STORY |
O'most Perfect
L
ate walk denies O’Sullivan perfect game
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (7-29-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN
is making it tough for the Los Angeles Angels to
keep him in the minor leagues.
The former Valhalla-Grossmont College right-hander
authored the first nine-inning no-hitter in the
Salt Lake franchise history, as the Bees blanked
the visiting Sacramento River Cats 2-0 in a Pacific
Coast League game Tuesday (July 28) night.
O'Sullivan (6-3) retired the first 18 batters he
faced before issuing a leadoff walk to Cliff Pennington
in the 7th. No other Sacramento runner reached as
O’Sullivan knocked down the final nine River
Cats in succession.
In the 9th, he got Anthony Recker to ground out
to shortstop Gary Patchett, struck out Yung Chi
Chen swinging and finalized the no-hitter by retiring
Pennington on a groundout to second. It took a great
play for second baseman Sean Rodriguez to get the
final out. Rodriguez made a sliding stop to his
left and, from his knees, threw Pennington out.
Brad Coon saved a hit with a diving catch in center
field to rob Aaron Cunningham to end the 4th inning.
O’Sullivan’s overall record this season
is 10-5, including 3-0 in five starts with the Angels.
The Buzz on Sully
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (7-25-09) — When you're a young
pitcher trying to earn a steady gig in the big leagues,
throwing well isn't always enough.
For SEAN O'SULLIVAN of the Los Angeles Angels,
a 3-0 record through his first five MLB starts is
fantastic – including Monday's (July 20) win
at Kansas City – but when you hold options
while others on the 40-man roster do not, you are
the target to be sent back to the minor leagues
when the parent club juggles its roster.
On Wednesday (July 22), the Halos sent the former
Valhalla High/Grossmont College standout back to
Triple-A Salt Lake City. O'Sullivan, who is slated
to start over the weekend for the Bees, was replaced
by right fielder Terry Evans on the major league
club.
He's back!.... well, on Monday
O’Sullivan to pitch vs. Royals
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-17-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN, is
ticketed to return to the active roster for the
Los Angeles Angels on Monday, July 20, when he is
slated to start on the road against the Kansas City
Royals at Kaufman Stadium.
This will mark O’Sullivan’s fifth start
for the Angels. The 21-year-old right-hander out
of Valhalla High-Grossmont College owns a 2-0 record
and a 3.80 ERA. He struck out 15 in 23 2/3 innings.
The Angels are 4-0 in games that he has started.
O’Sullivan, who is being recalled from Salt
Lake of the Triple A Pacific Coast League, has posted
an overall minor league mark of 6-5.
Angels return O'Sullivan to AAA – for now
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-07-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN, who
was unbeaten in four major league pitching starts,
was returned by the Los Angeles Angels to their
AAA Salt Lake farm club this week.
It is believed that it will be a brief stint in
the minors for O’Sullivan, who is 2-0 with
a 3.80 ERA for the Angels. One of the reasons for
the move is the upcoming Major League All Star game.
The Angels do not need a fifth starter until after
the summer classic.
O’Sullivan figures to rejoin the big club
around July 19.
Angels keep O'Sullivan in starting rotation
Gains Independence Day assignment vs. Orioles
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-3-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN was
staring at three possibilities this weekend. He
could remain one of the Los Angeles Angels’
five starting pitchers or be shuttled to the bullpen
for the first time in his brief professional baseball
career.
Or the 21-year-old right-hander of out of Valhalla
High and Grossmont College could be sent down to
Triple-A Salt Lake.
Angels manager MIKE SCIOSCIA decided Thursday (July
2) to keep O’Sullivan on as the club’s
No. 5 starter. O’Sullivan is ticketed to pitch
Saturday (July 4) at 6:05 p.m. against the Baltimore
Orioles at Angels Stadium. It will mark the fourth
start of the season for O'Sullivan, who is 2-0 with
a 3.00 ERA.
| The
Halo shines tonight |
 |
Sean
O'Sullivan captured his MLB debut, 8-1,
over San Francisco.
Photo: Courtesy, L.A. Angels of Anaheim
|
Dream MLB debut for O'Sullivan
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (6-16-09, 9:59 p.m.) — Rancho
San Diego's SEAN
O'SULLIVAN will be hard-pressed to select what
he liked best about his dream debut in the majors
Tuesday (June 16) at AT&T Park.
The 21-year old right-hander out of Valhalla High
and Grossmont College allowed just five hits over
seven solid innings to collect the victory in his
MLB debut. The former East County high school batting
champion also registered a basehit, leading the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to an 8-1 spanking
of the San Francisco Giants.
The only run off O'Sullivan came on a sacrifice
fly in the 7th inning after blanking the Giants
on just three basehits through the first six frames.
He struck out five batters.
Meanwhile, the Angels rolled up 15 hits, including
a 3-run homer by catcher Mike Napoli and a 2-run
shot by shortstop Maicer Izturis, his first of the
year. MORE
from MLB.com
O'Sullivan to make MLB debut Tuesday
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (UPDATED 6-15-09, 7:50 p.m.) —
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced that
Ervin Santana will not make his scheduled start
Tuesday (June 16) against the San Francisco Giants
due to elbow problems, calling up former Valhalla
High and Grossmont College standout SEAN
O'SULLIVAN for his Major League debut at AT&T
Park.
O'Sullivan is slated to be added to the 25-man
roster by Angels management prior to the contest.
However, O'Sullivan (5-2 with Class AAA Salt Lake
City) knew something was up as recently as Sunday.
"Once in a while, the pitchers get to take
batting practice if there is time, but Sean was
told to take BP prior to Sunday's day game at Reno,"
said PAUL O'SULLIVAN, his father. "That was
his first indication something might be happening."
|
|
| Angels
Scouting Report: This will be O'Sullivan's
Major League debut. He's a big (6-foot-2, 230
pounds) sinker/slider pitcher with a good changeup.
It's all about fastball command with O'Sullivan,
who is 5-2 with a 6.02 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A
Salt Lake. A 21-year-old San Diego native who
attended Valhalla High School and Grossmont
College in El Cajon, outside San Diego, O'Sullivan
led the Angels farm system last season with
16 wins. He was a third-round pick in the 2005
First-Year Player Draft. |
The Bees flew home to Salt Lake City, but O'Sullivan's
stay was brief.
"When they arrived at the clubhouse to unpack,
the Bees' manager told him not to. He was being
called up."
Instead, O'Sullivan was whisked back to the airport
for a 90-minute flight to San Francisco to
join the Angels for the second game of an interleague
series.
O'Sullivan was promoted from Class AA Arkansas
to Salt Lake following a rash of injuries to the
parent ballclub in April. But when Angels pitchers
began to return off the disabled list, the chain
reaction to return ballplayers to their original
ballclubs never included O'Sullivan. Now he gets
to face Giants left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (2-6).
"And he gets to bat, too," added his
father. "When he called me on the phone, that
was one of things he said excited him most."
The 2004 East County player of the year as a junior,
O'Sullivan led the region in both hitting and pitching,
topping the charts in pitching victories (11) and
batting average (.617, the highest East County mark
in more than 25 years). He was also an ERA champion
in 2003.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander was selected
by the Angels in the third round of the 2005 June
draft, but did not sign until after the 2005 collegiate
season, when we was a JC All-American and Pacific
Coast Conference player of the year for Grossmont
College before signing for more than $500,000.
O'Boys make some noise
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (5-16-09) — One brother is currently
taking the professional route in his baseball career,
while the other is on course for The Show through
the collegiate ranks. The O'SULLIVAN brothers of
Rancho San Diego found themselves just 35 miles
apart in the state of Utah on Saturday (May 16)
– and both turned in marvelous performances.
While older brother SEAN O'SULLIVAN was tossing
seven innings of no-hit ball for the Class AAA Salt
Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League, younger bro'
RYAN O'SULLIVAN had a career game with a pair of
home runs and recording the save in relief for San
Diego State.
King Bee stings Iowa Cubs
Sean O'Sullivan flirted with a no-hitter, while
his teammates pounded out 19 hits as the Salt Lake
Bees routed the Iowa Cubs 16-7 on Saturday night.
O'Sullivan (3-1) allowed only one batter to reach
in the first 6 1/3 innings and that was when he
hit Jake Fox with a pitch in the 1st inning. Ironically,
it was Fox who broke up the no-hitter with a clean
single up the middle.
Sean, a 21-year-old right-hander, fanned a season-high
nine batters in seven innings with one walk. He
was a standout performer at Valhalla High and Grossmont
College before signing as a third round pick of
the Los Angeles Angels in 2006.
Younger O’Sullivan is double threat
Earlier in the day, a half-hour drive north along
Interstate 15, freshman Ryan O'Sullivan lifted the
Aztecs from deficits of 4-1 and 7-3 to stun Utah
, 10-9 in 12 innings, in the teams' final ballgame
prior to the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
Ryan, the starting shortstop, batted 3-for-5 with
three runs, accounting for four RBI with his two
home runs. The first-year shortstop initially torched
the fences at Lindquist Field with a solo homer
in the 8th inning, then added his second bomb in
as many innings -- a 3-run shot -- with two outs
on a 3-2 pitch tying the game at 7-7.
In the 12th, SDSU scored three times, but the drama
was far from over though as Utah would score twice
in its half of the inning and eventually load the
bases with two outs.
At that point, O’Sullivan was called to the
mound and got the final out. He did so by inducing
C.J. Cron to ground into a fielder’s choice
to nail down the victory and pick up his first collegiate
save.
San Diego State (37-19) now heads to Fort Worth,
Texas, for the annual Mountain West Conference Tournament
hosted by TCU. As the No. 4 seed, the Aztecs will
open play against UNLV on Tue., May 19, at 7 p.m.
(CT) at Lupton Stadium.
O’Sullivan captures Triple-A debut
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (4-27-09) — SEAN O'SULLIVAN
was solid in his Triple-A debut for the Salt Lake
Bees. The former Valhalla High and Grossmont College
standout pitched 6 1/3 innings in leading the Bees
to a 9-3 victory over visiting Portland in a Pacific
Coast League game on Saturday (Apr. 25) night.
O'Sullivan, who struck out two of the first four
Triple-A batters he faced, allowed just two runs
on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Twelve of the 19 outs recorded by O'Sullivan came
on ground balls.
"I was little nervous going into it, but I
just tried to think of it as just being another
game,” O’Sullivan said.
O'Sullivan quickly promoted to Triple-A
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (4-23-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN
is one step from the show.
The 21-year-old right-hander out of Valhalla High
and Grossmont College made three starts for the
Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Texas League
before he was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake of
the Pacific Coast League Wednesday (Apr. 22) night.
A third round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in
the 2005 draft, O’Sullivan posted 1-2 mark
with a 5.30 ERA for Arkansas. In 18 2/3 innings,
he struck out 14 and walked none.
O’Sullivan joined the Salt Lake Bees in Tacoma,
Wash., where they will play Thursday and Friday
(Apr. 23-24).
|
|
|
Sean O'Sullivan, Arkansas
Travelers
|
O'Sullivan retires 16 straight in Double-A debut
© East County Sports.com
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (4-10-09) — SEAN
O’SULLIVAN opened a new chapter in his
professional baseball career Thursday night (Apr.
9).
The 21-year-old right-hander out of Valhalla High
and Grossmont College turned in a powerful pitching
performance, allowing just three hits and one earned
run in six innings as he led the Arkansas Travelers
to a 6-1 victory over the Midland (Texas) RockHounds
in the Double-A Texas League opener before 5,103
at Dickey-Stephens Park.
O'Sullivan earned the win by retiring the last
16 Midland batters he faced after giving up a first-inning
run. Two of the hits permitted by O’Sullivan
didn’t leave the infield. He struck out 6 and
walked none for the Travs, the defending Texas League
champions.
A third-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in
the 2005 draft, O’Sullivan has won 17 games
in his last two seasons.
O’Sullivan to open season with Angels Double-A
club
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (4-4-09) — Former Valhalla and Grossmont
College pitching ace SEAN O’SULLIVAN turned
in a respectable three-inning start in Saturday’s
(Apr. 4) final preseason game for the Los Angeles
Angels against the visiting San Diego Padres at
Angels Stadium.
O’Sullivan will open the season Thursday (Apr.
9) with the Arkansas Travelers, the Angels’
Double-A farm club. He will be that team’s
opening day starter.
For the record, O’Sullivan scattered 6 hits
and allowed only one earned run against the Padres.
He walked none and struck out three (Adrian Gonzalez,
Kevin Kouzmanoff and Jody Gerut).
The Angels won the game 5-4 but O’Sullivan
had no decision.
What was advertised as a television game between
the two teams was blacked out in San Diego , thus
disappointing a local audience of O’Sullivan
fans.
O'Sullivan to start vs. Padres on Cox-4
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (3-27-09) — Former Valhalla High and
Grossmont College standout SEAN
O’SULLIVAN will make his local television
baseball debut on Sat., Apr. 4, when he pitches
for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim against the
San Diego Padres in the final Cactus League spring
training exhibition game at Angels Stadium.
The game will be televised live locally on Cox
4-San Diego, starting at 6:05 p.m.
A third-round draft pick of the Angels in 2005,
O’Sullivan posted a record-breaking season
with a 16-8 mark, 4.73 ERA and 111 strikeouts in
158 innings for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the
Class A California League.
The 21-year-old O’Sullivan, who wears No.
70 in spring training, will be making his second
big league start. In three previous appearances
against major league competition this spring, the
6-foot-1, 220-pound O’Sullivan was 1-0 with
a 5.40 ERA in five innings.
2008 SEASON
|
|
 |
|
Sean O'Sullivan of the '08
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
(Courtesy photos, Rancho Cuacamonga Quakes)
|
Sean O'Sullivan picked
to All-California League
Post-season All-Star team
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (8-26-08) — The California
League post-season All-Star team was announced this
week and former Valhalla High/ Grossmont College
ace SEAN O’SULLIVAN, a starting pitcher for
the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, was named to the 14-man
roster.
A third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels,
O’Sullivan set the Quakes’ season and
career records for wins with a 15-7 mark. His ERA
is 4.70 with 107 strikeouts in 143 2/3 innings.
O’Sullivan figures to have one more start in
the regular season that ends on Labor Day.
Sean O'Sullivan named Pitcher of the Month
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (8-12-08) — Rancho Cucamonga
Quakes pitcher and former Valhalla and Grossmont
College standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN was named the Los
Angeles Angels' Minor League Pitcher of the Month
for July.
O'Sullivan, who was the Angels Organizational Pitcher
of the Year in 2007, went 5-0 with an earned run
average of 1.59 during the month. He gave up only
6 earned runs in 34 innings, walking only 5 while
striking out 20. One of O'Sullivan's five victories
was a complete game against High Desert. Opponents
batted only .214 against him.
O'Sullivan on the year is 14-5 with a 4.66 ERA.
His 14 wins ties him for the club record with Rick
Guttormson, who won 14 games in 1999. O'Sullivan
did not lose a game between May 15th and August
1st.
Raising the expectations
Quakes' O'Sullivan comes to R.C. with high hopes
from the Angels
Michelle Gardner, Staff Writer
The
San Bernardino County Sun
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (7-20-08) - In an organization noted
for the depth throughout its minor league system,
Sean O'Sullivan received a huge compliment from Baseball
America when it tabbed him the Angels' No. 5 prospect.
Another siginificant accolade came directly from
his employer, as the Angels named him their organizational
Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2007.
Those are pretty lofty credentials to live up to,
but the 20-year-old right-hander has done just that.
He is 11-4, although his ERA is a bit high at 5.33.
He leads the California League in wins and hasn't
been on the losing end of a start since May 15.
O'Sullivan spent last year at Low-A Cedar Rapids
of the Midwest League and had to go through the
typical adjustment that comes when moving up a level.
His ERA fell from 6.56 in May to 5.70 in June.
He has a sparkling 2.84 in three starts this month
and is coming off a win over High Desert on Thursday
in which he allowed one run and four hits in seven
innings.
"I try not to set any goals until I have seen
the league a little," he said. "Now that
I have been around I would say 15 wins would be
a good season. There is always room for improvement
but this is is a pretty good hitter's league."
O'Sullivan was selected by the Angels in the third
round of the 2005 draft out of Valhalla High School
in San Diego. He spent one year at Grossmont Junior
College then signed in 2006, just before he would
have gone back into the draft pool.
He has excelled at every level, leading the rookie
Pioneer League in ERA in 2006 with a nifty 2.14
at Orem (Utah) that earned him all-star team honors.
Last year at Cedar Rapids he recorded a 2.22 ERA,
also a league best. He was also second in innings
pitched (158.1) and led the Kernels in strikeouts
with 125.
O'Sullivan isn't overpowering, although he will
occasionally reach 93 on the radar gun. He prides
himself on his control, with just 47 walks in 230
innings the previous two seasons combined. He complements
the fastball with a curveball and a changeup.
"Throwing hard isn't what it's all about,"
O'Sullivan said. "You have to be able to locate
it and have command because hitters can catch up
to a fastball. The only thing not throwing hard
does is give you less margin for error. If you miss
your spot the hitter will make you pay."
The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder also boasts one of the
intangibles that coaches value.
"He's a big-time competitor. He wants to win
and he isn't afraid to go inside," Quakes pitching
coach Dan Ricabal said. "The other thing he
has learned is how to not let one big inning ruin
him. He has done a good job of keeping us in the
game even when he hasn't had his best stuff."
O'Sullivan isn't the only talented baseball player
in the family though. Younger brother Ryan, 17,
was drafted in the 10th round by the San Francisco
Giants in June. He has not signed but is still negotiating
while playing for a summer team.
O'Sullivan also credits his father Paul for much
of his success. Paul runs a flooring business in
San Diego but is on hand for all of his son's appearances.
"He's one of those fathers that actually knows
the game and no one knows me bettter than him,"
O'Sullivan said. "He can tell when I'm not
quite right even before I say anything. It is great
to be able to play so close to home where he can
be there."
The parent club is just up the road too which should
make it equally convenient should he make it to
the big leagues.
"Being drafted by the Angels was a dream come
true," he said. "But I am trying not to
get too far ahead of myself. I'm just trying to
get better and learn something every time I go out
there."
There is one other thing looming in the more immediate
future - his wedding in January.
"That's up there high on my offseason to-do
list," he said with a chuckle.
O'Sullivan carries the Quakes
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO CUCAMONGA (6-16-08) -- The Rancho Cucamonga
Quakes may have finished with the poorest record
(30-40) in the first half of California League play,
but that hasn't stopped Rancho San Diego's SEAN
O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla HS/Grossmont College) from
posting excellent numbers to maintain his individual
quest to advance to the major leagues.
O'Sullivan, a farmhand of the Los Angeles Angels,
completed the a strong opening two months of the
season with a 7-4 record -- only four other pitchers
in the 10-team circuit own more victories. His earned-run
average is a touch high at 5.90, but his WHIP count
still impresses Angels management.
Through 68 innings this season, O'Sullivan is allowing
just 1.56 baserunners via walks (W) or hits (H)
per inning (IP). His adjusted WHIP total, taking
away one poor outing in mid-April, is 1.23, while
striking out 55 batters against 29 walks for the
season.
In his most recent outing against the Modesto Nuts
on Saturday (June 14), O'Sullivan cruised through
four innings as he struck out the side in the 1st,
then induced three double play ground outs over
the next three consecutive innings in a 6-4 victory.
2007 SEASON
O'Sullivan named Angels' minor league Pitcher of the
Year
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (9-30-07) -- The Los Angeles Angels have announced
their Minor League organizational awards for the 2007
season, naming right-handed pitcher SEAN O'SULLIVAN
as Pitcher of the Year. This announcement was made
by Angels' Director of Player Development Tony Reagins.
O'Sullivan, 20, spent the 2007 season at single-A
Cedar Rapids, where he posted a 10-7 record with
a 2.22 ERA (39 ER, 158.1 IP) in 25 appearances as
a starter. He allowed 136 hits and 40 walks while
striking out 125 batters.
O'Sullivan led the Midwest League in ERA and ranked
second in innings pitched. He also led the Kernels
with his 125 strikeouts. A native of San Diego,
who attended Valhalla High and pitched at Grossmont
Community College, O'Sullivan was selected by the
Angels in the third round of the 2005 free agent
draft.
O'Sullivan times two
© East County Sports.com
BALBOA PARK (9-13-07) -- A pair of brothers from
El Cajon were honored by the San Diego Hall of Champions,
each named one of the Breitbard Stars of the Month
for August.
Tabbed were minor league baseball pitcher SEAN
O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High/Grossmont College) and
amateur pitcher RYAN O'SULLIVAN, Sean's younger
brother, also out of Valhalla.
Sean O'Sullivan earned his fifth career Star of
the Month citation, this time while pitching for
the Cedar Rapids Kernals of the Los Angeles Angels
system. In his second pro season, he won the Class
A Midwest League ERA title with a mark of 2.22.
For the month, he posted a 4-0 record with an ERA
of 0.49 ERA as the Kernals won the Midwest Division
title. He also was named the Pitcher of the Week
by Minor League Baseball.com for Aug. 20-26. His
season record was 10-6.
Meanwhile, Ryan O'Sullivan, a pitcher and shortstop,
was one 38 players in the nation named an Aflac
All-American and played in the Aflac All-America
High School Baseball Classic on Aug. 11 at Tony
Gwynn Stadium.
O'Sullivan pitched a 1-2-3 second inning to earn
his first Star of the Month award, becoming the
first set of brother to participate in the Aflac
game.
O'Sullivan wins Midwest League ERA crown
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (9-11-07) – Right-hander
SEAN O’SULLIVAN of the Cedar Rapids Kernals
finished with the lowest ERA during the Class A
Midwest League season.
A product of Valhalla High and Grossmont College,
O’Sullivan posted a 2.22 ERA to go along with
a 10-7 record. He struck out 125 batters in 158
innings in his first full season of professional
baseball.
O’Sullivan was a third-round draft pick of
the Los Angeles Angels in 2005.
O'Sullivan double-award winner
© East County Sports.com
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (8-28-07) – Right-hander
SEAN O’SULLIVAN of the Class A Cedar Rapids
Kernals has been named Minor League Baseball.com
and the Class A Midwest League Pitcher of the Week
for the period Aug. 20-26.
In two starts this past week, O’Sullivan –
a Valhalla High/Grossmont College product –
allowed no earned runs, just seven hits and one
walk while striking out 11 in a pair of eight-inning
outings. O’Sullivan currently leads the MWL
in ERA (2.07) and is second in innings pitched (152.1).
He also has 124 strikeouts to go with a 10-6 record
in 24 starts.
For the month of August, O’Sullivan posted
a remarkable 0.49 ERA.
A third-round draft pick of the Angels in 2005,
O’Sullivan led the Pioneer Rookie League last
season with a 2.14 ERA. As a freshman at Grossmont
College , O’Sullivan was an All-America and
an All-State first-team pick.
O'Sullivan seeks Triple-A Promotion
Leads Midwest League in ERA
By Jim Ecker
The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (8-17-07) — Sean O’Sullivan
is the stingiest pitcher in the Midwest League.
He also might be the most unselfish.
That might sound like a contradiction in terms,
but not if you listen carefully to the stocky right-hander
from California.
He’ll pass credit to his manager, pitching
coach, strength coach, catcher, defense and hitters
before he’ll get around to talking about his
own performances, which lately have been spectacular.
O’Sullivan tossed another gem Thursday night
(Aug. 16), as the Cedar Rapids Kernels spanked the
Peoria Chiefs, 11-1, before 3,552 fans at Memorial
Stadium.
O’Sullivan (9-6) allowed only one earned run
in seven innings and has a 3-0 record and 0.87 earned
run average in August. His ERA for the season is
2.31, the best in the league by far.
His earned run average is the stingy part, and
the unselfish part is sharing the credit. The Kernels
matched a season high with 17 hits and raised their
record for the second half of the Midwest League
season to 26-26.
‘‘Yeah, a little run support never hurts,’’
O’Sullivan said while enjoying a post-game
meal of fried chicken.
O’Sullivan credited the coaching staff and
training staff for keeping the pitchers in shape
during a long, hot season. The pitchers spend a
considerable amount of time in the weight room and
on the field between starts.
‘‘That’s what it takes to get your
arm ready every fifth day, and that’s what
we’ve got to do,’’ O’Sullivan
said. ‘‘It’s definitely helped out
this season, keeping in shape and making sure I
finish up with the stuff I started with.’’
Tyler Johnson led the 17-hit attack with three
hits, two doubles and three RBIs. Wil Ortiz, P.J.
Phillips and Anderson Rosario also collected three
hits as the Kernels unleashed a potent attack.
With all that support, O’Sullivan made it
look easy.
‘‘Just work ethic,’’ said Cedar
Rapids manager Ever Magallanes, tipping his cap
to the 19-year-old pitcher. ‘‘He’s
doing a good job. He’s doing everything right.
You know, going about it the right way.’’
It’s getting late in the season, but O’Sullivan
might deserve a promotion to a higher league at
this rate.
‘‘It’s out of my hands,’’
Magallanes said. ‘‘You’d love to
see it. That’s what we’re here for, as
mangers and coaches, to see kids get called up.
And he certainly deserves it. But that’s not
my call.
‘‘I’m glad he’s down here,’’
the skipper added with a smile.
A packed house is expected tonight in the final
of the two-game series. It’s Hall of Fame night
for the Kernels, and also the last chance for local
fans to see Hall of Famer and former Chicago Cubs
great Ryne Sandberg in uniform as Peoria’s
manager.
O'Sullivan is now a Kernel
© East County Sports.com
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (6-4-07) -- Former Valhalla High
and Grossmont College standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN continues
his rise through the minor league ranks of the Los
Angeles Angels, one of 20 players from the Rookie
League Orem (Utah) Owlz promoted to the Class A
Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League this
season.
The Kernels (yes, as in a kernel of corn) are 29-24
through the first two months of the season, in fourth
place, five games behind Beloit (Ill.) in the Western
Division.
O'Sullivan's most recent effort came May 30, when
he allowed just a single earned run in 6 2/3 innings
of work in a 12-7 victory over the Peoria (Ill.)
Chiefs. He struck out four batters, yet walked only
one, getting a bushel full of outs on nine groundballs
for his second straight victory.
O'Sullivan now owns a 4-3 record this season, lowering
his earned run average to 2.33 -- the second-best
among Kernels starters. He has allowed just one
earned run over a span of 20 1/3 innings in his
last four starts.
A third-round draft pick in 2005, O’Sullivan
eventually signed with the Angels after a successful
freshman season at Grossmont College.
2006 Season
|
|
|
Sean O'Sullivan
accepts his All-Pioneer League award (a bat)
during pregame ceremonies.
(Courtesy of Orem Owlz/Josh Hansen)
|
O'Sullivan named
All-Pioneer League
East County Sports.com
OREM, Utah (9-5-06) -- Former Valhalla High standout
SEAN O'SULLIVAN has been named to the All-Pioneer
League baseball team after his first taste of professional
baseball life.
A 3rd round pick of the Anaheim Angels in the 2005
draft, the 18-year-old right-hander posted the league's
best ERA at 1.91 along with a perfect 4-0 record.
He recorded 51 strikeouts and walked just seven
men in 66 innings pitched.
Orem finished in first place in the Pioneer League's
South Division during both halves of the regular
season. The Owlz will entertain the Idaho Falls
Chukars in the opening game of the Divisional Series
on Friday (Sept. 8).
|
|
|
Sean O'Sullivan
vs. Billings
(Courtesy of Orem Owlz/Josh Hansen)
|
O'Sullivan's Owlz closing on playoffs
East County Sports.com
OREM, Utah (8-26-06) -- One night after Orem Owlz
skipper Tom Kotchman became Minor League Baseball's
all-time winningest manager (1,446 victories), former
Valhalla High/Grossmont College standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN
moved the Owlz closer to the Pioneer League playoffs.
The right-hander tossed five more strong innings
Friday (Aug. 25), pacing Orem to a 5-4 victory over
Billings (Mont.) in a battle of division leaders.
With the effort, O'Sullivan (3-0), one of two undefeated
starting pitchers remaining in the Rookie League
circuit, continues to lead the Pioneer League in
earned-run average at 1.95. In 60 innings of work.
He has 45 strikeouts and yielded just a pair of
home runs all season.
Orem (15-11) now holds a 1-game lead over intrastate
rival Ogden iin the South Division's second-half
standings. Orem already captured the first-half
title. Billings holds the same two positions in
the North Division. There are 12 days remaining
in the regular season; playoffs open Fri., Sept.
8.
O'Sullivan strong after missing start
East County Sports.com
OREM, Utah (7-14-06) -- Two constants can be
found when SEAN O'SULLIVAN starts for the Pioneer
League's Orem Owlz. When the first-year pro pitches,
the Owlz usually win. And he rarely allows an earned
run, too.
The script was again true Thursday (July 13), as
O'Sullivan tossed the first four innings in Orem's
5-3 victory over the visiting Missoula Osprey. O'Sullivan
struck out three, giving him 16 in as many innings
this season, as the Owlz have won in three of his
four starts, with the lone setback coming in 13
innings.
Although he didn't get credit for the victory, O'Sullivan
lowered his earned-run average to a paltry 0.56,
allowing just a single earned run all season. The
right-hander would lead the league in ERA, except
he is two innings short of the needed frames to
qualify after missing his last start with shoulder
soreness. "Nacho," as he is known by teammates,
is being monitored carefully.
With the victory, the Owlz improve to 13-10, remaining
1.5 games back of Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League's
South Division.
Orem's O'Sullivan tosses O's
East County Sports.com
OREM, Utah (6-23-06) -- Valhalla High-Grossmont
College standout SEAN
O'SULLIVAN was flashy in his professional baseball
debut Thursday night (June 22) for the Orem Owlz
of the Class A Pioneer League.
O'Sullivan, a third-round pick of the Los Angeles
Angels in the 2005 draft, pitched four shutout innings
in a starting role as Orem buried the Ogden (UT)
Raptors 16-2.
A 19-year-old right-hander, O'Sullivan allowed
only two hits and struck out six for the Owlz as
more than 4,000 fans looked on.
"I was nervous,"O'Sullivan admitted.
"When I walked out to that mound for the first
time, I said to myself, 'wow, this is really happening.'"
O'Sullivan's first pitch was a strike. That set
the tone for the night.
Long after O'Sullivan left the mound, Orem posted
12 runs in the 7th inning to turn the home opener
into a rout. GAME
STORY
