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Sean O'Sullivan of the '08
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
(Courtesy photos, Rancho Cuacamonga Quakes)
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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 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.comANAHEIM
(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 crownCEDAR 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 PromotionLeads
Midwest League in ERABy 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
