NewsO'Sullivan happy to be in Royals blue
Right-hander adjusting well since trade to Kansas City
By Samuel Zuba / MLB.com
07/29/10 1:36 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Royals pitcher Sean O'Sullivan sits at his new locker lacing up his new cleats that match his new jersey, which sports the No. 37. As he sits there fidgeting with his shoes, he remembers what life was like growing up in California with his parents and three brothers."We ate, breathed and slept baseball," Sullivan said. "We never took family vacations. Our vacations were always, 'Hey, where's Sean playing his next tournament?' We loved it. We never felt like we missed out on going places."
Acquired from the Angels, along with left-handed pitcher Will Smith, in exchange for Alberto Callaspo on July 22, O'Sullivan was born and raised in San Diego and began playing organized ball before he can remember. As O'Sullivan recalled, his family was a baseball family, plain and simple.
O'Sullivan thanked his wife and his family for where he is today. He has three younger brothers, including Ryan, who is a junior at San Diego State and was drafted by the Giants in the 10th round in 2008.
His brothers play a major role in his life.
"Me being here, they think it's awesome," O'Sullivan said. "The fact that I'm on a video game is really cool for them. They always play with me pitching and set me against a National League team so I can hit. Then they move me up to the three-hole and just throw me fastballs and try and hit homers."
Unfortunately, playing for the Royals means O'Sullivan is unlikely to see much time at the plate.
As a 15-year-old, O'Sullivan joined Team USA and competed in the Junior Olympics. He was the winning pitcher when Team USA won gold in Taiwan, and for him, that was his proudest amateur moment.
"We actually won it and got the gold medal and got to stand up on the podium and have our anthem played," he said. "That was pretty cool. That was by far the coolest thing I've ever gotten to do."
Fast forward seven years and O'Sullivan is in his second season in the Majors. When the news came that he was headed to Kansas City in a trade, he welcomed the opportunity.
"The first thing I asked [Angels manager Mike] Scioscia when I was traded was, 'Hey, am I going somewhere where they wanted me? Were they asking for me?'" O'Sullivan said. "And he told me yes. I just want to be somewhere where they want me to pitch, where I'm going to get a chance to establish myself at this level and help this team win."
The Royals certainly wanted O'Sullivan, giving up their starting third baseman, who was hitting .275 with 43 RBIs with Kansas City.
O'Sullivan said adjusting to pulling for the Royals was a little difficult at first after being in the Angels' organization since he was drafted in third round in 2005, but now he has adjusted.
"I'm the type of guy that, between the lines, anyone not wearing my jersey is not my friend and I'll do anything I have to do to beat you," he said. "So coming over here, especially the first game, having to root for different guys was a little bit different at first. But after one game, these guys made me feel like I was a part of this family, and I definitely feel like this is my team."
Now, O'Sullivan is settling in just nicely in Kansas City.
"After two or three days, these guys made me feel like I was a part of this team," he said. "Now, when I walk into this locker room, I don't even think about the Angels or red. When I walk in, it's not surprising any more. This is who I play for and this is my team. These are the guys I'm going to bat with.
"I feel like I'm in a place where they want me to be here. They want me to pitch, they want me to help contribute to a winning team, and that's all I can ask for."
Samuel Zuba is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
