Scott Mathieson

Scott William Mathieson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Aldergrove Community Secondary School
• Debut June 17, 2006
• Final Game July 5, 2011
• Born February 27, 1984 in Vancouver, BC Canada

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Biographical Information

Scott Mathieson debuted in the majors in 2006. He has played for the Canadian national teams in both senior and junior level competition.

Mathieson pitched for the Canadian junior national team in 2002. He also spent summer ball with the Langley Blaze of the B.C. Premier Baseball League during his amateur days. That year, the Philadelphia Phillies chose him in the 17th round of the 2002 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Tim Kissner and made his pro debut, but struggled, going 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and .338 opponent average in 7 games for the GCL Phillies. 2003 was also rocky - 2-7, 5.52 for the GCL Phillies and leading the Gulf Coast League in losses. In six innings for the Batavia Muckdogs, he allowed no hits or walks, though, and fanned seven while getting one save.

In 2004, Scott improved to 8-9, 4.32 for the Lakewood Blue Claws. Baseball America rated him as the #17 prospect in the South Atlantic League, right behind Chris Young and Nate Schierholtz and right ahead of Matt Albers and Chin-Lung Hu.

2005 was Mathieson's fourth straight losing season, as he had a 3-8, 4.14 record for the Clearwater Threshers. He still got to pitch in the 2005 Futures Game, tossing 2/3 hitless innings in the 4th for the World Team. He again joined Team Canada. In the 2005 Baseball World Cup, he shut down Sweden in his first game and then shut out the eventual champion Cuban national team for the first four innings of his next outing, but allowed 7 runs in the fifth and part of the sixth to Cuba to finish the tournament 1-1 with a 6.10 ERA. He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Scorpions, going 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA but 36 strikeouts in 26 innings, earning him Baseball America's ranking as the #10 prospect in the AFL, right behind Lastings Milledge and once again, Chris Young.

Mathieson had gained 30 pounds and 12 mph on his fastball since being drafted and was rated the 2nd-best pitching prospect in the Phillies chain by Baseball America

Mathieson pitched for Canada in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He tossed a scoreless 8th in their 8-6 upset of the USA, though he walked two. He survived a scare when fellow Phillie Chase Utley hit a long fly to center that many thought would go out of the yard, but was caught by Adam Stern. Scott had a very good 2006 season, finally posting a winning record. He struck out 95 in his first 85 2/3 IP in AA before being called up to the majors; at the time, he was leading the Eastern League in strikeouts. Overall, he was 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA for the Reading Phillies, 3-1 with a 3.93 ERA for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons and 1-4, 7.47 for the 2006 Phillies. Had he qualified, he would have tied Landon Jacobsen for fifth in the Eastern League in ERA. Baseball America rated him the #16 prospect in the EL, behind Alexi Casilla and ahead of Jair Jurrjens. In Mathieson's MLB debut on June 17, he allowed a leadoff single to Julio Lugo and took the loss after allowing four runs in six innings.

Scott had Tommy John surgery late in 2006 and did not return until August of 2007, when he pitched two scoreless innings for the GCL Phillies. He had rehab stints for three teams that year, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) in 8 innings. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful and Mathieson needed to again undergo the procedure in 2008. In 2009, he again hit the rehab trail, faring very well in the minors (4-0, 2 Sv, 0.84, 17 H, 34 K in 32 1/3 IP) but not making it back to the majors.

In 2010, Mathieson was used as the closer for the AAA Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. He went 3-6 with 26 saves, a 2.80 ERA, 83 strikeouts in 64 1/3 IP and a .212 opponent average. He led Phillies farmhands in saves (5 more than Justin De Fratus) and was second in the 2010 International League (17 behind leader Jonathan Albaladejo). In his first big league action in four years, he stumbled, giving up 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) in 1 2/3 IP for the 2010 Phillies. The next year, he again did well for Lehigh Valley (2-2, 5 Sv, 3.28, 83 K in 82 1/3 IP, though he walked 50). In four games for the 2011 Phillies, he allowed no runs but 3 walks and 9 hits in 5 innings.

Mathieson signed with the Yomiuri Giants for 2012. He debuted on April 18th, relieving Jumpei Ono with a 5-0 deficit against the Chunichi Dragons in the 7th. He allowed one hit and one walk in two shutout innings of relief, as the Giants fell 5-2.

Sources: Baseball Canada, 2002-2007 Baseball Almanacs, World Baseball Classic website, MILB.com, IBAF website

Related Sites

• Scott Mathieson on mlb.com