Tayler Scott #53

Was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and grew up playing soccer, not picking up baseball until he was eight years old...He remained in South Africa until moving to Scottsdale, Ariz., at the age of 16 in order to play high school baseball...His family remained in South Africa but his parents, Rodney and Karen, would trade off staying with him in Scottsdale during his prep career...Scott graduated from Notre Dame Prep. High School in Scottsdale and was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB Draft...Signed by Cubs scout Steve McFarland...Scott became the second South African player – and first pitcher – to appear in a Major League game with his debut on June 8, 2019 at Los Angeles (AL)…Scott's parents made the approximately 24-hour trip from Johannesburg to Anaheim, Calif., to be in attendance for his debut...While Scott is the first South African pitcher to appear in a Major League game, the first position player was IF Gift Ngoepe, who debuted with the Pirates in 2017...Scott said his interest in baseball grew when Ngoepe, who grew up around 10 minutes from him in Johannesburg and was a teammate of his on the club circuit, signed with the Pirates in 2008...Tayler said Ngoepe's signing opened his eyes that playing baseball in American was possible...For the first time in his 13-year professional career, he earned an entire 1.000 year of Major League service time in 2024...Is still under club control for another four seasons (2025-28)...Is signed to a one-year contract for the 2025 season.

2024

The South African native, who ended the season on the 15-day IL, had a breakout season, going 7-3 with a 2.23 ERA (17 ER/68.2 IP), .188 opponents' average (45-for-239), 1.17 WHIP and 71 strikeouts...Set numerous career highs, including wins, innings, appearances and strikeouts...Prior to making 62 appearances (one start) this season, he had made 39 appearances through parts of three big league seasons (2019, 2022-23)…In his 61 relief appearances, had a 2.33 ERA (17 ER/65.2 IP), which ranked ninth in the AL among relievers...Also tied for fourth among AL relievers in wins (seven)…Ranked in the 98th percentile in barrel percentage, per Baseball Savant...Allowed hitters to barrel a baseball just 3.5% percent of the time...Of his 61 relief appearances, 16 were multiple innings, including 11 appearances of 2.0+ innings...Went 4-1 with a 1.77 ERA (seven ER/35.2 IP) and a .195 opponents' batting average through 35 relief appearances on the road...Also posted a 1.85 ERA (seven ER/24.1 IP) in his 19 appearances in day games...Made his first career Opening Day roster and pitched on Opening Day, making his Astros debut that night (March 28 vs. NYY), tossing a scoreless 1.0 inning with one walk and one strikeout...Picked up the first win of his MLB career on May 2 vs. CLE (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, one BB, one SO), coming in his 52nd career MLB appearance...Made a spot start on July 29 vs. PIT, working 3.0 perfect innings to open the game while striking out four batters...Was the fifth start of his career, as well as the longest start of his career...All five of his Major League starts have come as an opener...In a span from May 11-Aug. 2, went 6-2 with a 0.74 ERA (three ER/36.2 IP), a .133 opponents' batting average (16-for-120) and a 0.79 WHIP in 31 games (one start)…Placed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 21 due to a thoracic spine strain and ended the season on the IL.

2023

Appeared in the Majors with the Dodgers, Red Sox and A's, and recorded a 5.60 ERA (11ER/17.2IP) with 17 strikeouts in 18 games (two starts)...The 18 appearances marked his single-season career high...Began the season with Los Angeles (NL), was traded to Boston for cash considerations on June 22 and was claimed off waivers by Oakland on July 19, where he finished out his year...Was twice-utilized as an opener, once with Boston (July 9 vs. OAK) and once with Oakland (July 25 at SF)...Tossed exactly one inning in each start and did not allow an earned run in either start...Had his best Major League stint with Oakland, where he closed out the year...Recorded a 3.38 ERA (3ER/8IP) in eight games (one start) with the A's...Relied heavily on a slider-sinker combo, throwing his slider 47.3 percent of the time and his sinker 32.8 percent of the time per Baseball Savant...Also appeared at the Triple-A level with the Dodger, Red Sox and A's organizations, combining to go 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA (7ER/38.1IP), with five saves, 44 K's and a 1.017 WHIP...His 1.64 ERA was the lowest of any of his Minor League seasons (min. 35 IP)...Elected free agency following the 2023 season and signed a Minor League deal with the Astros on Dec. 12.

2022

Signed with the Padres as a free agent on Feb. 17 and was assigned to Triple-A El Paso to begin the season…was with San Diego until September, upon which he was claimed off waivers by Philadelphia...Saw his only big league action on the year with San Diego, going 0-1 in eight relief appearances over 12.0 innings for a 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP)...struck out 13 batters and walked six for a 2.08 WHIP...Struck out four batters in back-to-back appearances on July 4 and 10, firing 4.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs…walked a batter in each game...With Triple-A El Paso in the Padres organization, pitched himself to a 2-1 record in 33 relief appearances, posting a 3.76 ERA (17 ER/40.2 IP) with 52 strikeouts and 11 walks...With Triple-A Lehigh Valley, pitched in four games without factoring in any decisions…struck out four batters and walked four in three innings...Signed with the Dodgers on Jan. 3, 2023 as a free agent.

2021

Pitched in seven games for Hiroshima of the Japan Western League, going 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA (5 ER/23.0 IP) with 22 strikeouts against six walks…gave up 15 hits and produced a 0.91 WHIP.

2020

After electing free agency at the end of the 2019 season, went to pitch in Japan with Hiroshima in both the Japan Western League and Japan Central League...Posted a combined 3-6 record in 26 relief appearances, producing a 4.99 ERA (27 ER/48.2 IP) with 46 strikeouts and 14 walks…allowed 55 hits and delivered a 1.41 WHIP.

2019

Began the season with Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization and later had his contract selected by Seattle on June 7…was later picked up by Baltimore on June 25 off waivers...Appeared in five games (two starts) for Seattle, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) over 7.2 innings while keeping hitters to a .333 average…struck out seven batters and walked six for a 9.39 ERA...Pitched in eight games for Baltimore, giving up 18 runs (all earned) while striking out seven batters and walking five…allowed 20 hits...Made his Major League debut on June 8 at Los Angeles-AL, allowing three earned runs on four hits in 2.2 innings, striking out four and walking one…did not factor in the decision...Struck out Wilfredo Tovar of the Angels for his first big league strikeout on two sinkers and a slider in three pitches...Clocked time with both Triple-A Tacoma (Mariners) and Triple-A Norfolk (Baltimore), producing a combined 3-2 record over 33 appearances for a 4.59 ERA (26 ER/51.0 IP) with 68 strikeouts against 22 walks...Was invited to Spring Training with the Mariners.

2018

Pitched the entire season with Triple-A Round Rock, garnering a 5-5 record in 44 relief appearances with a 3.26 ERA (22 ER/60.2 IP) and 1.40 WHIP...Struck out 52 batters and walked 25 in his first season as a Texas farmhand...Longest outing of the year was Aug. 28 vs. Memphis at three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one en route to his fifth and final victory of the season...Did not allow a hit in 11 of his 44 outings, securing three wins in those outings…struck out 13 combined batters in those 11 games...Went 2-2 in 15 games after the All-Star break, producing a 3.86 ERA (11 ER/25.2 IP) with 18 strikeouts and 14 issued walks…was 3-3 with a 2.83 ERA (11 ER/35.0 IP) before the All-Star break, totaling 34 strikeouts with 19 walks...Struck out three batters in three different games: May 3 at New Orleans (2.1 IP), June 18 vs. Fresno (2.0 IP), and Aug. 25 vs. New Orleans (1.2 IP).

2017

Posted a career high in relief innings, going 4-7 with a 3.25 ERA (27 ER/74.2 IP) and 3 saves over 54 relief outings in the Milwaukee and Texas organizations…posted career highs in both SO/9 (9.2) and BB/9 (4.8)…began the season with Biloxi (AA) and had the 2nd-most relief appearances on the club prior to the trade…was acquired by Texas on 7/31, in exchange for RHP Jeremy Jeffress…assigned to Round Rock and allowed runs in 6 of 12 outings with the Express.

2016

Finished the season in the Milwaukee organization after spending time in the Independent American Association… was released by the Chicago Cubs on 3/29 and signed with the Sioux City Explorers on 4/21…was 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA (6 ER/28.2 IP) and 32 SO/6 BB in 17 relief appearances with the Explorers... signed by Milwaukee as a minor league free agent on 7/4 and logged 24 relief appearances with Biloxi over the remainder of the season…was 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA (3 ER/14.1 IP) over 9 relief outings with Salt River in the Arizona Fall League.

2015

Combined to go 6-3 with a 3.83 ERA (23 ER/54.0 IP) over 26 games/one start with Myrtle Beach (A+) and Tennessee (AA) in the Cubs organization…posted a career-best 8.0 SO/9 rate… opened season with Myrtle Beach and promoted to Tennessee on 5/30…was on the disabled list, 7/20-8/18, with right shoulder inflammation.

2014

Started a career-high 26 games at Daytona (A+) in last full season as a starter.

2013

Logged a team-high 24 starts for Kane County (A).

2012

Named the 17th-best prospect in the Northwest League after compiling a 2.52 ERA (20 ER/71.1 IP) over 15 starts with Boise.

2011

Pitched 3.2 innings with the AZL Cubs in pro debut.