Tanner Scott

From BR Bullpen

Tanner Alexander Scott

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Biographical Information[edit]

Left-hander Tanner Scott made his major league debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2017. There was never any question about his stuff, as he has been regularly clocked at 100 mph with his fastball, but control has been an issue over the years. Before his big league debut, in 198 2/3 innings, he had issued 145 bases on balls while striking out 251 batters. In fact, he had given up more walks then hits (141). He had an unusual pitching line with the Bowie BaySox of the Eastern League in 2017, as he made 24 starts but only pitched 69 innings, ending up with a record of 0-2. He gave up only 17 runs on the year for an ERA of 2.22. It was his first season as a starter, having first been used in the role in the Arizona Fall League after the 2016 season, and the Orioles were careful to limit his pitches and innings.

He pitched just 1 2/3 innings in 2 games in his first cup of coffee in the majors, allowing 2 runs, then was a regular member of the Orioles' bullpen in 2018. In 53 games that year, all in relief, he went 3-3, 5.40. In 53 1/3 innings, he allowed 55 hits and walked 28 batters, but also struck out 76 opponents. He was then limited to 28 games in 2019, when he spent half of the season in AAA with the Norfolk Tides, and to 25 games in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the season to 60 games. He showed solid improvement over those two seasons, pitching well at Norfolk with an ERA of 2.98 in 30 games, then going 1-1, 4.78 with Baltimore, before ending 2020 with an ERA of 1.31 in 25 games and 20 2/3 innings. His only decision that year was his first big league save and he struck out 23 batters - more than his combined total of hits (12) and walks (10).

He fell back in 2021, which was his last season with the Birds, going 5-4, 5.17 in 62 games. Both his strikeout rate and his walk rate were very high, with 70 K and 37 W in 54 innings. Just before the 2022 season started, he and another pitcher with major league experience, Cole Sulser, were traded to the Miami Marlins in return for three minor leaguers, none of which would reach the majors. The Orioles wanted to clear some roster space, but this was far from their best deal. In any case, he became the Marlins' closer that season and recorded 20 saves in 67 outings, to go along with a 4-5 record and a 4.31 ERA. He continued to both strike out and walk a lot of batters, with 90 strikeouts and 46 walks in 62 2/3 innings.

He then turned a corner in 2023, even though his number of saves fell to 12 in 74 games, although that mainly reflected a different usage. In 78 innings - his highest total until then - he allowed just 53 hits and 24 walks, and struck out 104 opponents for an ERA of 2.31. It was his first time maintaining a WHIP under 1.00 and he was a key pitcher in getting the Marlins to the postseason. he pitched one inning as the Fish were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card Series, retiring all three batters he faced. He followed that by making the All-Star team in 2024, as one of the few players performing well on a Marlins team that sank back to the bottom of the standings. He went 6-5, 1.18 in 44 games for Miami, with 18 saves. As he was about to become a free agent and his value was at an all-time high, the Marlins traded him to a contender at the trading deadline, sending him to the San Diego Padres on July 30th along with fellow pitcher Bryan Hoeing in return for four prospects. He continued to pitch well over the final two months, going 3-1, 2.73 in 28 games. Overall, his record was 9-6, 1.75 with 22 saves and 84 strikeouts in 72 innings. He was back in the postseason where he made another 5 scoreless appearances, totaling 4 1/3 innings, including 4 in the hard-fought Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that went to the limit. He faced superstar Shohei Ohtani four times during that series and struck him out all four times.

The Los Angeles Dodgers must have liked what they had seen of him during the 2024 Postseason as on January 19, 2025, they signed him to a four-year contract worth $72 million, fresh off signing Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • NL All-Star (2024)

Further Reading[edit]

  • AJ Cassavell and Brian Murphy: "Relief ace Tanner Scott, Dodgers agree to 4-year deal", mlb.com, January 20, 2025. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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