After six seasons in the minor leagues, Doumit made his major league debut on June 5, 2005, against the Atlanta Braves. During his rookie season, Doumit played primarily as a backup catcher but also served as the Pirates' designated hitter in interleague games.[2]
Over the next two seasons, Doumit suffered a variety of injuries, limiting him to 144 games. When healthy, he saw action as a catcher, first baseman, and right fielder.[3]
In 2008, Doumit played exclusively as the Pirates' starting catcher. He was once again plagued by injury and missed three weeks with a broken thumb. He returned to the lineup and consistently kept his batting average above .330 throughout the rest of the summer. Doumit shared the National League's Player of the Week award for the week ending June 16, 2008, hitting .400 and 4 home runs during the week.[4] On September 26, Doumit attempted to throw out Willie Harris trying to steal 2nd base, but instead plunked Pirates pitcher John Grabow; see[1]
On December 22, Doumit agreed to a three-year contract with the Pirates to avoid arbitration.[5]
Doumit began the 2009 year strongly, starting 11 of the first 12 games and hitting .244 with 2 home runs; however, he sustained a wrist injury in a game against the Atlanta Braves, later diagnosed as a fracture in the scaphoid bone. Doumit had surgery to repair the bone, and missed roughly 8–10 weeks.[6] He finished 2009 with 16 doubles, no triples, 10 home runs, 38 runs batted in, 4 stolen bases, to go along with a .250 average, .299 on-base percentage, a .414 slugging percentage, in 280 at bats.
Doumit played in 124 games during the 2010 season with the Pirates. He batted .251 with 13 home runs and 51 runs batted in. His season ended due to injury.
For the 2011 season, Doumit was limited to just 77 games, in which he batted .303 with 10 home runs and 38 runs batted in. He became a free agent after the 2011 season, ending his tenure with the Pirates.
On November 18, 2011, Doumit agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins.[7]
On June 29, 2012, the Twins signed Doumit to a two-year extension through the 2014 season. The extension was worth $7 million, with $3.5 million per year in 2013 and 2014.[8]
