Tanner Scott: From ‘Revolving Door’ to Marquee Dodgers Free-Agent Signing

In the world of Major League Baseball, a player’s journey to success is rarely linear. Some players take the direct route, quickly ascending through the minor leagues and solidifying themselves as stars. Others, however, take a more convoluted path, marked by setbacks, transformations, and unexpected turns. Tanner Scott’s career journey is a story of perseverance, growth, and the eventual reward of a major free-agent deal. This article will explore how Scott, once regarded as a “revolving door” of inconsistencies, evolved into a dominant force on the mound, eventually catching the attention of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the most prestigious teams in Major League Baseball.

Early Years: The Promise and the Struggles

Tanner Scott’s story begins in the small town of Lubbock, Texas, where he was born on January 22, 1994. Baseball was a big part of Scott’s life growing up, and he showed promise as a pitcher from a young age. He attended Frenship High School, where he impressed scouts with his raw arm talent and a fastball that consistently hit the high 90s. The Baltimore Orioles took notice of his potential and selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB Draft.

Scott’s early years in the minor leagues with the Orioles organization were marked by flashes of brilliance and significant struggles with consistency. His fastball, which could touch 100 mph, made him a highly intriguing prospect. But it was his control issues and inability to harness that power that would plague him early in his career.

In 2016, Scott made his first appearance at Double-A Bowie. He showed flashes of the electric stuff that had made him a highly touted prospect but also exhibited the wildness that would characterize much of his early professional career. He walked batters at an alarming rate, and his command remained inconsistent, often making him a liability on the mound despite his raw talent. By 2017, Scott was still struggling with his control, as he posted a 4.13 ERA with a 5.4 BB/9 rate in Triple-A Norfolk.

Despite these challenges, Scott’s sheer power and potential kept him on the radar of Orioles’ coaches and front-office personnel. In fact, it was his raw potential that led to his first major-league call-up in 2017. Scott made his debut with the Orioles that September, pitching in a limited role. His fastball continued to be his calling card, but his control issues were on full display as he walked five batters in just 3.2 innings.

The “Revolving Door” of the Orioles

In 2018, Scott seemed poised for more regular work with the Orioles, but his control remained a significant hurdle. He had a 4.96 ERA in his first full season in the majors, with a disastrous 5.8 BB/9 rate. Despite this, Scott’s strikeout ability—he averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings—kept him relevant in the bullpen, as the Orioles saw his potential as a high-leverage arm.

However, the Orioles’ tumultuous seasons during Scott’s tenure led to what many would dub the “revolving door” phase of his career. Scott would often find himself shuttled between Triple-A and the majors, his inconsistency making him difficult to trust in high-leverage situations. His strikeout stuff remained impressive, but his inability to consistently throw strikes left him as a pitcher who was tough to rely on, especially for a rebuilding Orioles team that needed dependable arms.

In 2019 and 2020, Scott continued to struggle with command, and his walk rate remained high. However, his raw talent kept him on the roster, and he would often show glimpses of brilliance, with his fastball and slider combination making him a tough out for left-handed hitters. Even though he was often sent down to the minors, the Orioles remained committed to his development, recognizing that the potential to be a late-inning weapon was still within him.

By 2021, Scott had settled into a more established role in the Orioles’ bullpen, but the control issues remained. Over the course of the season, Scott posted a 5.36 ERA, walking 4.8 batters per nine innings. Yet, there were moments where he showed that he could be dominant, with his fastball consistently sitting in the mid-90s and his slider proving to be an effective pitch against hitters of both handedness. Despite the struggles, Scott continued to be a fixture in the Orioles’ bullpen, one of the few arms with elite potential in a rebuilding organization.

The Breakthrough Year: 2022 and the Transformation

It wasn’t until 2022 that Tanner Scott finally began to unlock his potential in a way that would change the course of his career. The Orioles traded Scott to the Miami Marlins in the offseason, and this move would prove to be a turning point. In Miami, Scott was reunited with Marlins’ pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., who had a reputation for working wonders with pitchers struggling with command issues.

Under Stottlemyre’s guidance, Scott began to refine his mechanics, with a particular focus on his fastball and slider. He was taught to throw his slider with more consistency, and his fastball command improved considerably. The result was a dramatic improvement in his performance. Scott posted a 3.27 ERA in 2022, with a career-low 3.4 BB/9 rate, and most importantly, his strikeouts remained high at 11.9 K/9. His fastball was consistently sitting in the upper 90s, and his slider became a devastating weapon against left-handed hitters.

Scott’s success in 2022 was built on his ability to command his pitches more effectively, allowing him to be used in high-leverage situations. His strikeout rate, combined with his ability to limit walks, made him a weapon out of the bullpen, and he quickly became one of the most effective relievers in the Marlins’ bullpen. As the season wore on, Scott earned more and more trust from manager Don Mattingly and the Marlins’ coaching staff, emerging as one of the most reliable relievers in Miami’s bullpen.

The turning point came when Scott earned his first career save in August 2022, marking a career milestone. His improved command and dominance against both left- and right-handed hitters earned him more opportunities in the late innings, and he finished the year with a career-best 29.2 innings pitched, posting a 3.27 ERA with 38 strikeouts and just 11 walks. He had finally evolved into the high-leverage reliever the Orioles had always hoped for, but it was the Marlins who reaped the rewards of his growth.

The Dodgers: A Perfect Fit

After the 2022 season, Scott became one of the most coveted free-agent relievers on the market. The success he had found in Miami, coupled with his raw talent, made him an ideal candidate for a team looking for a dominant bullpen piece. That team turned out to be the Los Angeles Dodgers, a franchise with a reputation for developing pitching talent and a track record of success in the postseason.

The Dodgers, coming off a disappointing 2022 postseason exit, were looking to bolster their bullpen and add more depth to their pitching staff. Scott’s combination of a high-velocity fastball and devastating slider made him an intriguing option, especially given his newfound command. The Dodgers recognized that Scott had the potential to be a game-changer in their bullpen, and they quickly made him a priority in the offseason.

In January 2023, the Dodgers signed Scott to a two-year deal, solidifying his place as one of the marquee free-agent acquisitions of the offseason. The move was seen as a major coup for the Dodgers, as they added a proven weapon to a bullpen that already included stars like Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Alex Vesia.

Scott’s addition to the Dodgers’ bullpen provided them with a much-needed power arm who could be used in late-game situations. The team was eager to continue the work that Stottlemyre Jr. had started in Miami, and they believed that Scott’s stuff, combined with their world-class coaching staff, could make him an even more effective pitcher. Scott’s confidence had grown since his 2022 breakthrough, and joining the Dodgers’ winning culture was seen as the next step in his evolution.

A New Chapter

Tanner Scott’s transformation from a highly touted prospect with control issues to a dominant late-inning reliever is a testament to his perseverance and ability to adapt. His journey through the ranks of the Orioles, with all its highs and lows, was marked by frustration, but his move to the Marlins and his work under Mel Stottlemyre Jr. unlocked the potential that had always been there.

Now, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Scott finds himself on the cusp of becoming one of the most feared relievers in baseball. His fastball-slider combination, once a source of inconsistency, is now his calling card, and his newfound command makes him a dangerous weapon in the bullpen. As the Dodgers aim for another World Series title, Tanner Scott’s story is a reminder that success in baseball is often a result of growth, adaptability, and seizing opportunities when they arise.

Tanner Scott’s career is far from finished, but with his move to the Dodgers, he’s entering the next phase of what could be a storied and impactful career. The ‘revolving door’ that once defined him has now transformed into a path toward greatness, and Scott is ready to prove that he belongs among the game’s elite relievers.