Doyle Becomes Fourth Cavalier to Make MLB Debut in 2020

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Colorado Rockies pitcher, Tommy Doyle, became the fourth former Cavalier to make their MLB debut on Wednesday night (Sept. 23). A total of 14 former Virginia baseball players have appeared in an MLB game this season, a new program record.

The four Cavaliers to make their MLB Debuts this season are tied with South Carolina for the most of any college baseball program.

Doyle is the 48^th Cavalier to appear in a Major League Baseball game and the 25^th under head coach Brian O’Connor. Doyle is the seventh Cavalier (Adam Haseley, Joe McCarthy, Josh Sborz, Pavin Smith, Matt Thaiss & Brandon Waddell) from the 2015 National Championship team to make it to the show. In the past two seasons, nine Virginia baseball players have made their MLB debuts, including five in 2019, tied for the most of any college baseball program.

Doyle pitched the final inning of a 7-2 Rockies loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and fanned Austin Slater for his first big league strikeout.

A 2017 second-round pick of the Rockies, Doyle made a quick ascension to the show after pitching in High-A last season for the Lancaster JetHawks. In 2019, Doyle led the California League with 19 saves. He was 2-3 with a 3.25 ERA and struck out 48 batters in 36 innings pitched.

Doyle was added to the club’s 60-man roster on July 27.

A three-year member of the Cavaliers from 2015-17, Doyle made 61 career appearances and saved 17 career games, the sixth most in school history. He had a breakout year for the Cavaliers in 2017 serving as the teams closer, registering 14 saves, tied for the second most in the ACC and 10^th most in the country. He earned Third Team All-ACC honors and was one of four Cavaliers selected first four rounds of the 2017 MLB Draft after going 70^th overall to the Rockies.