Tayler Scott Bio
Tayler James Scott (born 1 June 1992) is a South African professional baseball pitcher. He is recognized as the first South African pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and later became the first South African pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Over the course of his career, Scott has appeared in MLB for eight different organizations, including the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, and Arizona Diamondbacks. He is currently a free agent.
Born in Johannesburg, Scott moved to the United States as a teenager to pursue baseball and developed his skills in the American amateur system before being drafted into professional baseball. His journey from a South African upbringing to becoming a major league pitcher has made him a notable figure in the international growth of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Tayler James Scott was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 1 June 1992. Growing up in a country where baseball is a minority sport, his early exposure to the game came through local programs and his own dedication to learning the craft. His talent eventually attracted attention from scouts based in the United States.
At the age of 16, Scott moved to the United States to attend high school and continue developing his baseball skills. He enrolled at Notre Dame Prep High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he competed against some of the top amateur talent in the country. His performance at Notre Dame Prep helped establish him as a legitimate professional prospect.
Following high school, Scott initially committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona, one of the most respected baseball programs in the United States. However, his path changed when he was selected in the 2011 MLB Draft, leading him directly into professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Scott’s entry into professional baseball came when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He chose to begin his professional career immediately rather than attend college. From 2011 through 2015, he worked his way through the Cubs’ minor league system, playing for the AZL Cubs, Boise Hawks, Kane County Cougars, Daytona Cubs, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and the Tennessee Smokies.
His development in the Cubs organization gave him experience at multiple levels, from rookie ball to Triple-A. Although he was released by the Cubs on 30 March 2016, his time in the minor leagues prepared him for the journeyman career that followed. He signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball in April 2016, where he posted a 1.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 28 and two-thirds innings across 17 relief appearances.
That summer, on 6 July 2016, Scott signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, marking his return to affiliated baseball. He played for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League during 2016, and returned to Biloxi to begin the 2017 season. On 31 July 2017, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Jeremy Jeffress, continuing his climb through professional baseball.
Tayler Scott Career
Early Career (2011-2018)
Scott spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons primarily in the upper levels of the minor leagues, pitching for the Round Rock Express, the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate. In 2018, he appeared in 44 contests, posting a 5-5 record with a 3.26 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 60 and two-thirds innings pitched. His consistent performance in Triple-A during the 2018 season positioned him for an opportunity at the major league level the following year.
After electing free agency on 2 November 2018, Scott signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners on 24 January 2019. He opened the 2019 season with the Tacoma Rainiers before receiving the call that would change his career trajectory.
MLB Debut and Mariners Breakthrough (2019)
Scott was called up to the major leagues for the first time on 7 June 2019. He made his MLB debut on 8 June 2019 against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching two and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs on four hits. In that debut appearance, he recorded his first major league strikeout against Wilfredo Tovar, becoming the first South African pitcher in MLB history. The milestone was a landmark moment for baseball in South Africa.
His time with Seattle was brief, as he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on 25 June 2019. In eight appearances for the Orioles, Scott struggled to an 18.69 ERA, though he was markedly better with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, where he posted a 0.56 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 13 appearances. He was removed from the 40-man roster on 30 October and elected free agency on 4 November.
International Stint in Japan (2019-2021)
On 1 December 2019, Scott signed a one-year contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball, becoming the first South African pitcher in NPB history. In 2020, his first season with Hiroshima, he struggled to a 15.75 ERA across seven games. He did not appear in a regular season game for the Carp in 2021 and became a free agent after the season.
Return to MLB and Journeyman Years (2022-2023)
Scott signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on 7 March 2022, and had his contract selected on 3 July 2022. In eight appearances for San Diego, he posted a 6.75 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings before being designated for assignment on 11 September. He was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on 14 September 2022, where he struggled at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before being designated for assignment in December and electing free agency.
In 2023, Scott bounced between several organizations. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on 7 January, pitched six games for the Dodgers, then was traded to the Boston Red Sox on 22 June. After four games with Boston, he was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on 19 July, registering a 3.38 ERA across eight appearances. He was removed from Oakland’s 40-man roster in November and elected free agency the same day.
Houston Astros Era (2024-2025)
On 12 December 2023, Scott signed a minor-league contract with the Houston Astros and made Houston’s Opening Day roster in 2024. He earned his first major league win on 2 May 2024, tossing one and one-third scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians in an 8-2 final. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on 21 September 2024 with a thoracic spine strain. Through that point, he had made the third-most appearances for the Astros, with a 2.23 ERA, 71 strikeouts, a 25.2% strikeout rate, and a 3.5% barrel rate over 68 and two-thirds innings, though he struggled with walks at 12.4%.
In 2025, Scott made 17 appearances for the Astros, posting a 1-2 record and 5.40 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 16 and two-thirds innings before being designated for assignment on 14 May. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on 21 May, rejecting an outright assignment to Triple-A Sugar Land. He later signed a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on 31 May 2025, was added to Arizona’s active roster on 10 June, and was designated for assignment on 28 June after posting a 9.00 ERA. He elected free agency on 1 July 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Scott’s most significant milestones include becoming the first South African pitcher in MLB history during his 8 June 2019 debut with the Seattle Mariners, and later becoming the first South African pitcher in NPB history when he signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. His first major league win came on 2 May 2024 with the Houston Astros. Across his MLB career, he has played for eight different major league organizations, a testament to his resilience as a journeyman pitcher.
Tayler Scott Career Highlights
MLB Career Highlights
Scott’s MLB career began with the Seattle Mariners in June 2019, where he recorded his first major league strikeout against Wilfredo Tovar. His first major league win came on 2 May 2024 with the Houston Astros, when he tossed one and one-third scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians. Throughout his major league career, he has appeared for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Other Performances
Beyond MLB, Scott pitched for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2019 to 2021, making him the first South African pitcher in NPB history. In independent baseball with the Sioux City Explorers in 2016, he posted a 1.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts across 28 and two-thirds innings in 17 relief appearances. With the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in 2019, he recorded a 0.56 ERA across 13 appearances.
Tayler Scott Family
Personal Life
Tayler James Scott was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, before relocating to the United States at the age of 16. His decision to move abroad to pursue baseball at Notre Dame Prep High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, marked the beginning of his journey toward professional baseball. As a South African athlete competing in a sport with limited presence in his home country, he has been recognized as a trailblazer for baseball in South Africa.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a turbulent year for Tayler James Scott, as he navigated multiple organizations and roster moves. He began the season with the Houston Astros, where he made 17 appearances and posted a 1-2 record with a 5.40 ERA across 16 and two-thirds innings before being designated for assignment on 14 May 2025. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on 21 May, declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Scott quickly found a new opportunity, signing a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on 31 May 2025. After three scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Reno Aces, he was added to Arizona’s active roster on 10 June. He made nine appearances for the Diamondbacks but struggled to a 9.00 ERA over nine innings before being designated for assignment on 28 June. He elected free agency on 1 July 2025 after clearing waivers.
Later in the summer, Scott returned to the Houston Astros system, signing a minor-league contract on 4 July 2025. He appeared in 11 games for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys before having his contract selected on 18 August. He allowed five runs in one and one-third innings of a 10-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers and was designated for assignment the following day. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land on 22 August, electing free agency on 6 October 2025.