Scott Thomas McGough (born October 31, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

Scott McGough
McGough with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2021
Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitcher
Born: (1989-10-31) October 31, 1989 (age 35)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 20, 2015, for the Miami Marlins
NPB: March 30, 2019, for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record3–10
Earned run average5.83
Strikeouts115
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record15–8
Earned run average2.94
Strikeouts251
Saves80
Holds59
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team

Professional career

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Los Angeles Dodgers

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McGough attended Plum High School in Plum, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball and basketball and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 46th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. Instead, he chose to attend the University of Oregon, where he played for the baseball team. In the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

McGough began his professional career in 2011 with the Rookie–level Ogden Raptors, and later earned a call-up to the Single-A Great Lakes Loons, pitching to a cumulative 2.77 ERA on the year. In 2012, he began the season with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Miami Marlins

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McGough with the Jacksonville Suns in 2013

On July 25, 2012, McGough and Nathan Eovaldi were traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Hanley Ramírez and Randy Choate.[1] He finished the year with the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, recording a 2–1 record and 3.24 ERA in 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 67.0 innings of work.[2] In 2014, McGough underwent Tommy John surgery, and missed the 2014 season as a result.[3] In 2015, McGough returned to action with Jupiter, Jacksonville, and New Orleans, accumulating a 1.93 ERA in 27 games for the three teams.

On August 20, 2015, McGough was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In his debut, McGough struggled, allowing three runs while only getting two outs against the Philadelphia Phillies.[4] In his rookie season, he logged a 9.45 ERA across 6 appearances. On April 14, 2016, McGough was designated for assignment by Miami after struggling to a 13.50 ERA in 2 games with Triple-A New Orleans.[5]

Baltimore Orioles

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McGough was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on April 15, 2016.[6] On May 7, McGough was designated for assignment by the Orioles.[7] He spent the season split between the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and the Double-A Bowie Baysox, posting a 2–3 record and 4.72 ERA in Norfolk and a 2–2 record and 5.68 ERA in Bowie. McGough split the 2017 season between Norfolk and Bowie as well, accumulating a 3–4 record and 2.75 ERA in 40 appearances between the two teams. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[8]

Colorado Rockies

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On November 23, 2017, McGough signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization.[9] 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. He elected free agency following the season on November 2,[10] and re-signed with the team on a new minor league contract on November 9.[11] McGough was later released on December 18, 2018.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

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On December 25, 2018, McGough signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.[12] In 2019, McGough pitched to a 6–3 record and 3.15 ERA with 11 saves in 65 games with the team. The next year, McGough pitched in 50 games for Tokyo, recording a 4–1 record and 3.91 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched.[citation needed]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On December 15, 2022, McGough signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[13] He earned his first career MLB save on April 2, 2023, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[14] In 63 appearances for the Diamondbacks, McGough registered a 2-7 record and 4.73 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 9 saves across 70+13 innings pitched.[15]

While playing against the New York Yankees on April 3, 2024, McGough was called in to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. He ended up striking out looking as the Diamondbacks lost 5-6 in 11 innings.[16] 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 32+23 innings pitched.[17]

On February 11, 2025, McGough re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a minor league contract.[18]

International career

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On July 2, 2021, McGough was named to the roster for the United States national baseball team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, contested in 2021 in Tokyo.[19] The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Gurnick, Ken (July 25, 2012). "Source: Dodgers acquire Hanley from Marlins". MLB.com. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  2. ^ "Scott McGough College, Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com".
  3. ^ "Plum grad McGough grateful to be pitching for Triple-A Isotopes". Apnews.com. August 4, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Marlins 9, Phillies 7". mlb.com.
  5. ^ Steve Adams (April 14, 2016). "Marlins Claim Eric Jokisch From Cubs, Designate Scott McGough". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Kubatko, Roch (April 15, 2016). "Orioles claim reliever Scott McGough off waivers". Masnsports.com. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  7. ^ charliewilmoth (May 7, 2016). "Orioles Designate Scott McGough For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Rockies' Scott McGough: Inks deal with Rockies". cbssports.com. November 23, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 22, 2018). "Minor League Transactions: Nov 6 – Nov 21". Baseball America. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Jason Coskrey (July 12, 2019). "Swallows reliever Scott McGough thrilled to be late addition to CL All-Star team". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "Diamondbacks agree to terms with reliever Scott McGough".
  14. ^ "Diamondbacks' Scott McGough: Earns first save". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "Scott McGough 2023 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  16. ^ "Bases loaded, 2 outs in the 11th and here comes ... the pitcher?!". MLB. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "Scott McGough 2024 pitching Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  18. ^ "Diamondbacks bring back RHP Scott McGough on minor league deal, sign RHP John Curtiss". arizonasports.com. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  19. ^ "USA Baseball announces Olympics roster". MLB.com. July 2, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "Baseball/Softball – United States vs Japan – Gold Medal Game Results". olympics.com. August 7, 2021. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
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