Scott Taylor
Pitcher
Born: (1967-08-02) August 2, 1967 (age 56)
Defiance, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 17, 1992, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1993, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record1–2
Earned run average6.31
Strikeouts15
Teams

Rodney Scott Taylor (born August 2, 1967) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox.

Biography

Taylor played high school baseball in his hometown of Defiance, Ohio.[1] His senior year, he threw a no-hitter[a] and posted a 5–2 win–loss record with a 0.52 earned run average (ERA).[1] In June 1985, he committed to attend Bowling Green State University.[1]

Taylor played college baseball for three seasons with the Bowling Green Falcons,[4] receiving all-Mid-American Conference (MAC) honorable mention in 1986 and 1987, and second-team honors in 1988.[5]: 2  Taylor noted that he was hampered by a sore lower back during the 1987 season, and during that summer had issues with a torn muscle in his arm.[6] He was named the team's outstanding pitcher for 1988,[5]: 3–4  having recorded 87 strikeouts in 83+1⁄3 innings pitched (9.4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched) while posting a 4–5 record with a 3.24 ERA.[7][8] Taylor was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 28th round of the 1988 MLB draft;[9] he signed with the team the following week.[10]

Taylor made his professional debut in 1988 with the Elmira Pioneers, a Class A Short Season affiliate of the Red Sox.[11] He was limited to just 3+2⁄3 innings due to a tender left bicep muscle.[12] In 1989, he played for the Class A Lynchburg Red Sox in the Carolina League, making 19 appearances (nine starts) while pitching to a 5–3 record with a 2.89 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched.[13]

Taylor first reached the Double-A level in 1990, and the Triple-A level in 1991.[11] Taylor was a September call-up for Boston in both 1992 and 1993, appearing in four games (one start) from mid-September through the end of the season in 1992,[14] and in 16 games (all in relief) during the final month of the 1993 season.[15] In 20 total major-league appearances (one start), Taylor pitched to a 1–2 record with an ERA of 6.31; he struck out 15 batters in 25+2⁄3 innings pitched.[16]

Taylor was released by the Red Sox at the end of spring training in 1994, then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left rotator cuff,[17] causing him to miss the 1994 season.[18] He played a final professional season in 1995, at the Triple-A level in the Pacific Coast League with the Calgary Cannons, a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates.[11]

In 1999, Taylor was inducted to the athletic hall of fame of his high school in Ohio.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ Taylor's no-hitter is absent from the detailed baseball records kept by Defiance High School,[2] but was reported locally in The Lima News.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Falcons sign Defiance pitcher". The Daily Sentinel-Tribune. Bowling Green, Ohio. June 6, 1985. p. 22. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Defiance HS Baseball Record Book (PDF). 2022. pp. 67–68. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via defiancecityschools.org.
  3. ^ Naveau, Jim (April 28, 1985). "Spartans, Indians pull off close Sectional wins". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. p. D3. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com. But the pitcher of the day was Defiance's Taylor. The senior lefthander struck out 10 and walked one in his no-hitter.
  4. ^ "Bowling Green State University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b BGSU Baseball Record Book (PDF). Bowling Green State University Athletics. June 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via bgsufalcons.com.
  6. ^ "Taylor healthy once again". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. April 13, 1988. p. C2. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Around the campuses". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. June 6, 1988. p. C2. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "BG's Kevin Ward on MAC first team". Sentinel Tribune. Bowling Green, Ohio. May 24, 1988. p. 12. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Scott Taylor". Retrosheet. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "Taylor signs with Red Sox". Sentinel Tribune. Bowling Green, Ohio. June 8, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c "Scott Taylor Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Taylor has frustrating summer". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. August 29, 1988. p. C2. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Scott Taylor Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "The 1992 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Scott Taylor". Retrosheet. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "The 1993 BOS A Regular Season Pitching Log for Scott Taylor". Retrosheet. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "Scott Taylor Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  17. ^ Usher, Tom (May 12, 1994). "Taylor hopeful of another shot". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. p. D1. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Taylor fires shutout innings". The Lima News. Lima, Ohio. April 14, 1995. p. D1. Retrieved June 21, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Scott Taylor inducted in 1999". defiancecityschools.org. Retrieved June 21, 2023.

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