Tanner Scott rides big fastball, improved slider into Futures Game

So maybe there is one downside to the plan. He can never be a winning pitcher. But other than that, there is a whole lot to like about the Orioles' 2017 development plan for pitcher Tanner Scott, a left-hander who can touch 100 mph.

Mostly a reliever previously in his pro career, the 22-year-old Scott has been making starts of three innings this season for Double-A Bowie. That gives him more innings to throw and work on all of his pitches, and also a between-outings bullpen session to work on his delivery, command and control.

A pitcher with a high walk rate in his career, the bases on balls have been reduced this season. At Single-A Frederick last season, Scott walked 7.82 batters per nine innings, and that increased to 8.44 when he moved to Bowie. This season at Bowie, he is averaging 5.88 walks per nine innings. In a recent six-start stretch between May 28 and June 27, Scott gave up just one run over 18 innings with seven walks and 18 strikeouts. That is 3.5 walks per nine innings.

Scott is 0-1 with an ERA of 1.84 this season. Over 49 innings, he has allowed 31 hits with 32 walks and 62 strikeouts. He's been dominant at times. And his strong season continues today on a big stage. He'll join Triple-A Norfolk catcher Chance Sisco in representing the Orioles in the All-Star Futures Game in Miami.

Sisco, who played in this game last year and homered, and Scott join a list of Orioles such as Zach Britton, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Chris Tillman, Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey who have played in the Futures Game.

"I'm honored to go there for the Orioles and I feel good about us playing the World Team. It's going to be fun and I'm excited to go," Scott said this week at Prince George's Stadium.

"I did text Chance and I asked, 'What do we wear?' Just looking forward to seeing what it's all about and what it has to offer. It's going to be fun."

The player development plan to improve Scott's control this year and advance him closer to the majors has worked wonderfully to this point.

"This guy has made great strides," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham said. "The pitching coaches, (current Bowie coach) Kennie Steenstra has done a terrific job with him and Alan Mills (2016 Bowie coach) did a terrific job with him last year. I'm really happy with the progress he's making. We're developing a major league pitcher, someone that is going to help us win games at the big league level."

Said Bowie skipper Gary Kendall: "Every time he goes out there, you see flashes of something good that you didn't see before. His composure and the maturation process has been really good."

"Definitely going in, when they told me I would be a starter and go three innings, it was going to be different," Scott said. "You can't really get a win - either a no-decision or a loss. I said to Kennie the other day, 'Kennie, I think I just got my first loss.' He said, 'That's pretty impressive, though (that it took that long).' Has it been as good as I expected? I was hoping for the best and, yeah, it's been good."

Scott needed to improve his fastball command and further improve his slider this year. The slider, in particular, has made some nice gains.

"He is staying on top of it more this year," Kendall said. "It has more tilt and finish. A good slider isn't always a strike, but a pitch that guys will chase. But he's been able to throw one for a strike and one to finish hitters off. He can throw it to righties and lefties. That pitch has come a long way for him."

"It's really improved," Scott said. "If I get behind with my fastball, I trust my slider to throw it in there. First pitch, full count, I mean I'm really trusting it and it's really helped a lot. Every day, I'm working. Even if not throwing off a mound, I'm working on my mechanics with it. Just to make sure everything is fluid and on time. Also the bullpen in between (starts) has helped me. It's been good.

"I feel confident. Even if I don't have the best control that day, I'm still going to throw it. I still trust it and want to throw it. Especially when guys cheat to get to the fastball. Even if you are not consistently throwing it for strikes, then you throw one in there, the chances of them swinging is pretty high."

For Scott, this has been a season where he can feel that he is making improvements. Then he can look on a stat sheet and tangibly see it in the numbers.

"It definitely fills me with confidence seeing the success I've had," he said.

Not yet on the Orioles' 40-man roster, Scott's day to get a big league chance could be coming - if not this season, then next season seems a strong possibility. Does he ever let himself dream on a big league future?

"I try not to. I try to just go day-by-day," Scott said. "If I get my name called - 'Hey you've got to come here' or 'You have to go to Triple-A' - I'm ready for it. The fun part of being in Double-A is you're a phone call away."

If and when Scott gets to Baltimore, will it be as a reliever, possibly a late-inning arm, or maybe even in a different role? His three-inning outings this year have some in the organization wondering if they've got a future starter on their hands. He's improved his slider, and if his changeup can also make gains, he'll be a three-pitch pitcher.

"I mean, I'm open to whatever (role) gets me to help out with the big league club," Scott said. "When I signed, I was mainly a fastball-changeup pitcher and didn't really have a breaking ball. Then I've been working on my slider. I mean my changeup is going to come along and hopefully soon."

His improvements today take him all the way to Miami, where he and Sisco join some of the best minor league players in the game.