As the Boston Red Sox returned to the playoffs last year, their farm system continued to thrive. One player who stood out was Stephen Scott. After posting a .248 batting average in his first minor league season, Scott was a different player in 2021. The former 10th round pick hit 16 home runs and was hard to keep off the bases. While Scott has seen his stock rise, he has had an intriguing journey so far. Following an impressive run at Vanderbilt, Scott was selected by the Red Sox in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB draft. For Scott, it was a day that he will never forget.
“A lot of it was just talking with my parents and agent to find the best situation,” said Scott. “I remember being in one of the dorm rooms with a couple of other guys and watching them getting drafted and being able to celebrate with them when my name was called was special. Going into the draft, I had no expectations. I was hoping that as a senior someone would take a chance on me, and I was fortunate that the Red Sox did.”
In his first minor league season, Scott appeared in 39 games and had 12 runs batted in. While his sample size was small, he did have 13 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles. However, his development was paused when the 2020 minor league season was canceled. Scott still found ways to work on his game during his unexpected time off.
Scott’s Success in 2021
“I just got to back to local roots,” said Scott. “I worked out at my high school and got together with guys in the area to catch bullpens or do some live hitting. Being able to spend some time at home and get back to what I had done was huge.”
Scott’s work paid off as in 2021 he had his best season yet. In 100 games between Salem and Greenville, the 24-year-old outfielder posted a .291 average. His power continued to improve as Scott hit 16 home runs and 29 doubles. As he faced more advanced pitching, his walk total increased from 23 to 62. In a Red Sox system full of talent, he stood out.
🚨BLTR Update🚨
Congratulations to Stephen Scott on his promotion to High A @GreenvilleDrive !!! Scott has been slugging the baseball this summer! Check out his mighty swings and DINGERS! 💣
Continued success Stephen!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻💪🏻💪🏻⭐️⭐️@Stephen_Scott7 pic.twitter.com/3COOlVPWW5
— Bats Left Throws Right™ (@BLTRPodcast) August 23, 2021
“The Red Sox staff has been incredible working with me,” said Scott. “Some of it was also mental toughness. A lot of people had been out of baseball for a while at that point, so it was just sticking with it and remembering that it was just a game and to have fun.”
As Scott saw his value, he was able to play alongside some of the Red Sox top prospects. The 2018 draftee hit .259 in 39 games in Salem, where he was in the same clubhouse as Nick Yorke. While Scott’s time with the Red Sox’s fourth-best prospect was limited, he was impressed by the former first-round pick.
“He is a really special player and person to be around,” said Scott. “I spent a lot of time with him at Salem and missed him when I got called up to Greenville. To see where he is at as a 19-year-old is special. The kid is mentally tough, and he makes the game a lot of fun for those around him.”
The Focus in 2022
With the minor league season only a few weeks away, Scott will be one prospect to keep an eye on. The Red Sox prospect showed his offensive potential last season as he posted a .338 average after being promoted to Greenville. In 2022 he will be looking to build on his success while adding a new position to his resume.
“I’m hoping to get more comfortable catching,” said Scott. “It’s a little bit of a new role for me, but getting used to catching some of the highest-level arms is the biggest goal for me. I want to establish myself as someone who can play a couple of different positions but has a home behind the plate.”
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Main Image Credit: From Masslive.com
