Tanner Scott: Unpacking the Lefthander’s High-Octane Arm
- Introduction to the Enigmatic Pitcher
- Early Career and the Baltimore Orioles
- Finding His Stride in Miami
- Pitching Arsenal: The Fastball and Slider
- Battling Command and Finding Consistency
- Traded to San Diego and Arrival with the Dodgers
- Tanner Scott’s Impact and Future
- My Take on the Southpaw’s Journey
- Tanner Scott’s Enduring Presence
Tanner Scott, the hard-throwing left-handed relief pitcher, has certainly carved out a fascinating and sometimes wild career path in Major League Baseball. As someone who’s followed baseball for years, watching pitchers like Scott evolve is truly captivating. You see moments of absolute dominance followed by periods where you just scratch your head. But that’s the life of a high-velocity reliever, isn’t it? In this article, we’re going to delve into the career of Tanner Scott, exploring his journey through the minors, his time with the Orioles and Marlins, his recent trades, and what makes his pitching so unique – and occasionally, so frustratingly effective.
Early Career and the Baltimore Orioles
Born on July 22, 1994, in Warren, Ohio, Tanner Alexander Scott’s path to the big leagues wasn’t always a straight line. He played college baseball at Notre Dame College and then Howard College before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 2014 MLB draft. Signing for an above-slot bonus showed the Orioles saw potential in his arm. His early professional years were spent honing his craft in the minor leagues, where his talent was evident, but so too was a penchant for walks. He debuted in MLB with the Orioles in September 2017.
My experience watching the Orioles during that time, you’d see glimpses of brilliance from Scott. His fastball, even then, was electric. But the control issues were often the story. It felt like every outing was a tightrope walk. In 2019, for instance, he appeared in 28 games for Baltimore but walked 30 batters in just over 26 innings. The pandemic-shortened 2020 season, however, offered a tantalizing look at what could be. He pitched to an impressive 1.31 ERA over 25 games, allowing only 12 hits in 20.2 innings. It felt like he had finally put it all together. Unfortunately, that consistency didn’t carry into 2021, where his ERA rose to 5.17.
Scott spent parts of five seasons with the Orioles, primarily as a reliever. He had a 4.73 ERA and struggled with walks during his tenure there, averaging 5.5 walks per nine innings. This high walk rate was a recurring theme that often overshadowed his impressive strikeout numbers.
Finding His Stride in Miami
A change of scenery often does wonders for players, and that seemed to be the case for Tanner Scott when he was traded to the Miami Marlins on April 3, 2022, along with Cole Sulser, in exchange for prospects. With the Marlins, Scott began to settle into a more defined role, eventually becoming their closer. His first season in Miami saw him record 20 saves with a 4.31 ERA in 67 outings, though the walks (46 in 62.2 innings) were still a factor.
The real breakout season for the southpaw closer came in 2023. Tanner Scott had a remarkable year, compiling a 9-5 record with a stellar 2.31 ERA over 74 appearances. He struck out 104 batters in 78 innings and, crucially, saw his walk rate drop significantly to a career-low 2.8 per nine innings. Watching him that year, he looked like a different pitcher. The confidence was there, and he was consistently hitting his spots while still unleashing his high-velocity stuff. He even made his first postseason appearance, pitching a scoreless inning in the Wild Card Series.
Pitching Arsenal: The Fastball and Slider
Tanner Scott’s success is largely built on a dominant two-pitch mix: a four-seam fastball and a slider. His fastball consistently sits in the upper 90s, often touching 100 mph. Baseball Savant data shows his fastball averaging around 96-97 mph, making it one of the fastest among left-handed relievers. It’s a pitch that’s tough to square up, even when it’s over the plate, thanks to its velocity and some deception in his delivery.
Complementing the heater is a sharp, high-velocity slider that typically registers in the upper 80s. This slider is a significant swing-and-miss pitch and generates a high number of groundballs. As a fan watching, you can often tell when he’s about to throw the slider – the late break makes hitters look lost. It’s a devastating pitch when he commands it. While he occasionally mixes in a changeup, his primary attack revolves around these two powerful offerings.
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Battling Command and Finding Consistency
Despite his electric stuff, the biggest hurdle for Tanner Scott throughout his career has been command. While his 2023 season with the Marlins showed significant improvement in this area, his career walk rate remains higher than average. This inconsistency can lead to high-stress innings and inflated pitch counts. It’s the classic high-velocity pitcher’s dilemma: how to harness premium stuff without losing the plate entirely?
My personal observation is that when Scott is locked in, his mechanics look repeatable, and his release point is consistent. When he struggles, you see the delivery get a bit more violent, leading to misses that aren’t competitive. Finding that consistent release point is key for any pitcher, but especially one relying on such high velocity. It’s a constant battle, but one he’s shown he can win, as evidenced by his dominant 2023 performance and strong start to 2024.
Traded to San Diego and Arrival with the Dodgers
The business of baseball saw Tanner Scott on the move again in 2024. Despite being an All-Star for the Marlins with a stellar 1.18 ERA and 18 saves, he was traded to the San Diego Padres on July 30th as part of a package for prospects. This move bolstered the Padres’ bullpen as they pushed for a playoff spot. In his time with the Padres, he continued to perform well, posting a 2.73 ERA in 28 games with 31 strikeouts and four saves.
Following his strong 2024 campaign, Scott became one of the most sought-after relief pitchers on the free-agent market. He ultimately signed a significant four-year, $72 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2025 season, joining a loaded pitching staff. This move signaled the Dodgers’ intent to build a dominant bullpen and recognized Scott’s value as an elite late-inning arm. As of late May 2025, Tanner Scott is the clear leader in saves for the Dodgers.
Tanner Scott’s Impact and Future
Tanner Scott’s impact is undeniable. When he’s on, he’s one of the most difficult relievers to face in baseball. His ability to miss bats with both his fastball and slider is elite, and his low average exit velocity allowed highlights how little hard contact hitters make against him. He’s proven he can handle high-leverage situations and rack up saves. His journey from a wild but hard-throwing prospect to an All-Star closer is a testament to his talent and perseverance.
Looking ahead, the future for Tanner Scott with the Dodgers seems bright. He’s a key piece in their bullpen, and his performance will be crucial for their championship aspirations. While the command will likely always be something to monitor, his recent track record, particularly in 2023 and 2024, suggests he’s found a way to minimize the walks while maximizing the effectiveness of his devastating stuff. It will be exciting to see how he continues to perform on one of baseball’s biggest stages.
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My Take on the Southpaw’s Journey
Observing Tanner Scott’s career has been quite the ride. From the raw, albeit frustrating, talent in Baltimore to the dominant closer he became in Miami, and now a high-profile arm in Los Angeles, his story is a great example of how pitchers can develop and refine their skills over time. It reminds me that even with elite physical gifts, consistency and command are what separate good relievers from great ones. I always pull for guys who battle control issues but have truly nasty stuff, and Scott fits that mold perfectly. His journey underscores the importance of coaching and finding the right environment, too. His transformation in Miami, particularly in 2023, was remarkable.
It’s easy to look at a pitcher with a high walk rate and write them off, but Scott shows why you shouldn’t. When that fastball-slider combo is working, and he’s throwing strikes, he’s practically unhittable. I’m genuinely curious to see how he performs over the full duration of his contract with the Dodgers. Can he maintain the control gains he showed? Will he continue to be an elite closer? These are the questions that make watching baseball so much fun. You can follow his latest stats on sites like Baseball-Reference.com or FanGraphs.
Tanner Scott’s Enduring Presence in MLB
In conclusion, Tanner Scott is a fascinating relief pitcher whose career has been defined by electrifying velocity and a continuous battle for command. His journey from a highly-touted but often wild prospect in the Baltimore Orioles system to an All-Star closer with the Miami Marlins and now a high-leverage arm for the Los Angeles Dodgers highlights the resilience and adaptability required in professional baseball. Tanner Scott has proven he has the elite stuff to succeed at the highest level, and his recent performance suggests he may have finally found the consistency to match his talent. As he continues his career with the Dodgers, fans will undoubtedly be watching to see what the hard-throwing southpaw does next.