Scott McGough Bio
Scott Thomas McGough (born October 31, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Oakland Athletics, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. A talented pitcher, McGough has had notable success, including being named to the NPB All-Star team three times and winning a Japan Series championship in 2021. In 2020, he represented the United States at the Tokyo Olympics, contributing to the team’s silver medal win.
Early Life and Background
Scott Thomas McGough was born on October 31, 1989, in Plum, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the same Pennsylvania community where he later attended Plum High School. At Plum, he was a multi-sport athlete, playing both baseball and basketball during his high school years.
Following high school, McGough was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 46th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted not to sign with the organization. Instead, he chose to continue his baseball development at the collegiate level, enrolling at the University of Oregon, where he played for the Oregon Ducks baseball team and continued to refine his skills on the mound.
Path to Professional Baseball
After his time at the University of Oregon, McGough entered the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, where he was selected in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The selection marked a significant step in his progression toward professional baseball and provided him with a clear developmental pathway within a major league system.
McGough began his professional career in 2011 with the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors before earning a midseason call-up to the Single-A Great Lakes Loons. He posted a cumulative 2.77 ERA across his two stops that year. In 2012, he opened the season with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, continuing his climb through the Dodgers’ minor league ranks.
Scott McGough Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
McGough’s early professional years were spent moving steadily through the minor leagues. On July 25, 2012, he was traded, along with Nathan Eovaldi, to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Hanley Ramírez and Randy Choate. He finished the 2012 season with the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, recording a 2–1 record and 3.24 ERA across 15 appearances.
In 2013, McGough split the season between the Double-A Jacksonville Suns and the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, posting a 4–4 record and 2.82 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 67 innings of work. His progress was halted in 2014, however, when he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season as he recovered from the procedure.
Miami Marlins Era (2015–2016)
McGough returned to action in 2015, pitching for Jupiter, Jacksonville, and New Orleans while accumulating a 1.93 ERA across 27 games. On August 20, 2015, he was selected to Miami’s 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. His major league debut was a difficult one, as he allowed three runs while recording only two outs against the Philadelphia Phillies. He finished his rookie season with a 9.45 ERA across six appearances.
On April 14, 2016, McGough was designated for assignment by Miami after struggling to a 13.50 ERA in two games with Triple-A New Orleans. He was then claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on April 15, 2016, only to be designated for assignment again on May 7. He spent the rest of 2016 split between the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and the Double-A Bowie Baysox, recording a 2–3 record and 4.72 ERA in Norfolk and a 2–2 record and 5.68 ERA in Bowie.
Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies (2016–2018)
McGough split the 2017 season between Norfolk and Bowie once more, accumulating a 3–4 record and 2.75 ERA in 40 appearances between the two affiliates. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017, and signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization on November 23, 2017.
He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes for the 2018 season, where he pitched to a 7–3 record and 5.55 ERA in 43 games. After electing free agency on November 2, he re-signed with Colorado on a new minor league deal on November 9, before being released on December 18, 2018.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Era (2019–2022)
On December 25, 2018, McGough signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball, beginning the most successful chapter of his career. In 2019, he pitched to a 6–3 record and 3.15 ERA with 11 saves in 65 games for the Swallows, earning recognition as an NPB All-Star.
He returned strong in 2020, pitching in 50 games for Tokyo and recording a 4–1 record and 3.91 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched. His standout 2021 season included a Japan Series championship with the Swallows and a second NPB All-Star selection, while he was also named to the United States national baseball team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he helped the Americans win a silver medal. In 2022, he earned his third NPB All-Star nod before departing Japan.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2023–2025)
On December 15, 2022, McGough signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He earned his first career MLB save on April 2, 2023, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 63 appearances for the Diamondbacks across 2023, McGough registered a 2-7 record and 4.73 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 9 saves across more than 70 innings pitched.
He pitched in 26 games for Arizona during the 2024 campaign, struggling to a 1-3 record and 7.44 ERA with 25 strikeouts across nearly 33 innings. On February 11, 2025, McGough re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league contract and was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces. After being selected to the active roster on April 27, he posted a 6.43 ERA across seven innings in seven appearances before being designated for assignment on June 5, 2025, and electing free agency on June 10.
Athletics Era (2025)
On June 14, 2025, McGough signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and was assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In 16 appearances there, he posted a 4-0 record and 3.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts and one save across 24 innings of work. On September 1, 2025, the Athletics selected his contract and added him to their active roster. He became a free agent following the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
McGough is a right-handed relief pitcher who has carved out a career in high-leverage bullpen roles. His arm strength and ability to miss bats have made him a valuable late-inning option, most notably during his time in Japan, where his work with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows earned him three All-Star selections and a Japan Series title.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of McGough’s career came on April 2, 2023, when he recorded his first MLB save against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also represented the United States at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, helping the team earn a silver medal, and was part of the 2021 Japan Series championship run with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Scott McGough Career Wins
Scott McGough’s career is highlighted by significant bullpen success in both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. His time with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows stands out as the most decorated stretch, with a Japan Series championship, three NPB All-Star selections, and a 2021 Olympic silver medal with Team USA.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Highlights
During his four seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows from 2019 to 2022, McGough established himself as a dependable late-inning reliever. He earned 11 saves in 2019 and was selected to the NPB All-Star team three times, in 2019, 2021, and 2022. His crowning achievement came in 2021, when he helped the Swallows capture the Japan Series championship.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Japan, McGough recorded his first MLB save on April 2, 2023, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and posted a 4-0 record with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators during the 2025 season. His Olympic silver medal in 2021 with the United States national baseball team remains a career-defining accomplishment.
Scott McGough Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Scott Thomas McGough was raised in Plum, Pennsylvania, where he attended Plum High School and developed his baseball skills. Public information regarding his parents, marital status, spouse, or children is not clearly supported by available verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
McGough’s 2025 season was split between two organizations. He opened the year with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a minor league deal, was selected to the active roster in late April, and was designated for assignment on June 5 after posting a 6.43 ERA across seven innings. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on June 10.
On June 14, 2025, McGough signed a minor league contract with the Athletics and quickly made an impact at Triple-A Las Vegas, going 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 24 innings in 16 appearances. The Athletics selected his contract on September 1, adding him to their major league roster for the final stretch of the season.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, McGough became a free agent. His late-season work with Las Vegas and his promotion to Oakland suggested he remained in solid form, leaving the door open for future opportunities as he continued his professional career.