Scott Bittle

Joseph Scott Bittle

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Mississippi, Northeast Texas Community College
• High School Texas High School

• Born August 27, 1986 in Texarkana, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Scott Bittle was an All-American hurler.

Bittle was 5-3 with two saves and a 2.08 ERA as a high school senior, with 77 strikeouts but 43 walks in 55 innings. He had a 6-4, 4.24 record as a college freshman. He was a medical redshirt in 2006 due to rotator cuff problems, then he transferred to Ole Miss and went 2-5 with 7 saves and a 2.79 ERA as a sophomore. The New York Yankees took him in the 48th round of the 2007 amateur draft but he did not sign.

As a junior, Bittle was 7-1 with eight saves and a 1.78 ERA, striking out 130 in 70 2/3 innings and allowing just a .145 average. He led NCAA Division I in Ker per 9 innings. Despite being a reliever, he was third in Division I in strikeouts behind only Brian Matusz and Stephen Strasburg. He also was 8th in ERA. He led the Southeastern Conference in both ERA and strikeouts but lost out All-Conference and SEC Pitcher of the Year honors to Josh Fields. He was picked as an All-American by Baseball America, joining Aaron Crow, Rob Musgrave, Matusz and Strasburg. The Yankees chose him in the second round of the 2008 amateur draft. The 75th overall choice, he was the fourth-highest selection not to sign, following Crow, fellow Yankee choice Gerrit Cole and Pirates draftee Tanner Scheppers.

As a redshirt senior, Scott went 5-2 with three saves, a 2.17 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. He fell to the fourth round of the 2009 amateur draft before the St. Louis Cardinals picked him. He was signed by scout Jay Catalano for a $75,000 bonus. He did not pitch that summer for the Cards then had shoulder surgery in 2010 and missed all year. He finally made his pro debut with the GCL Cardinals on July 2nd, 2011, allowing 2 earned runs over 2/3 of an inning of relief work and taking a loss.