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Former Cavaliers Thriving In MLB When reliever Sean Doolittle was called up to Oakland on June 4, 2012, he became the 30th Virginia alumnus to play in the major leagues. But any discussion about Virginia alumni who've played in the majors has to begin with Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Washington's first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2005 MLB Draft, Zimmerman has morphed into an All-Star. In his first major league at-bat in September 2005, Zimmerman laced a double, and he hasn't stopped hitting since. Between 2006 and 2007, he delivered a total of seven walk-off hits, and in the former season he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. In 2009, he reeled off a 30-game hitting streak, received a Gold Glove as the best defensive third baseman in the NL and was awarded the Silver Slugger as the league's best offensive third baseman. Through his first 1,005 major league games, Zimmerman compiled a .287 batting average with 154 homers and 604 RBI. This year, Zimmerman was off to a slow start while battling a hamstring injury. He batted just .226 with one homer and 11 RBI in 15 games played during April. Following is a list of other former Cavaliers who either All-Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman comhave had major league experience or are on the verge of piled a .287 batting average with 154 homers and 604 RBI in his first 1,005 major league breaking into The Show: games with the Washington Nationals. • The A's made Doolittle, a hitter turned reliever, the 41st Photo Courtesy Washington Nationals overall pick in the 2007 draft. Since joining Oakland in June 2012, Doolittle has notched a 3-1 record with a 2.76 ERA and one save in 582⁄3 innings with 72 strikeouts and only 42 walks. Through May 2, he was 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 appearances out of the Oakland bullpen this season. • The Chicago Cubs picked outfielder Brandon Guyer in the fifth round of the 2007 draft and later traded him to Tampa Bay. He saw some action in the major leagues for the Rays in both 2011 and 2012, but began this season in Triple-A Durham and was hitting .244 with three homers, 14 RBI and four stolen bases as of May 2. • One former Cavalier with a very high ceiling is reliever Danny Hultzen, whom Seattle made the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft and signed to a five-year contract worth $8.5 million with a $6.35 million signing bonus. He was 9-7 with a 3.05 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 124 innings over 25 starts between Double-A and Triple-A last year. He began the 2013 season with Triple-A Tacoma and was 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 222⁄3 innings pitched through May 2. • Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has carved out an 11-year MLB career after being selected by Arizona in the fourth round of the 1998 draft. He has recorded a 23-11 record with 12 saves and a 3.81 ERA in 571 career appearances with Ari-