Scott Strickland
Encyclopedia
Scott Michael Strickland (born April 26, 1976 in Houston, Texas
) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
, who is currently a free agent.
Strickland was selected by the Montreal Expos
in the 10th round of the 1997 MLB Draft
out of the University of New Mexico
. He played in the Expos minor league system from 1997-1999 with the Vermont Expos, Cape Fear Crocs
, Jupiter Hammerheads
, Harrisburg Senators
and Ottawa Lynx
.
Strickland made his Major League debut on August 14, 1999 against the Colorado Rockies
. He worked 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run in his debut. He was a relief pitcher for the Expos from 1999 through 2002, when the Expos traded him to the New York Mets
in a seven player transaction.
With the Mets, Strickland pitched in 68 games in 2002, finishing 6-9 with a 3.59 ERA. However, after appearing in only 19 games in 2003 he had to undergo Tommy John surgery
and was sidelined for most of the next two years. He did not return to the Major Leagues until September 3, 2005 with the Houston Astros
. He only pitched four innings with the Astros that season.
From 2006-2008 he pitched in AAA with the Indianapolis Indians
(Pirates
), Portland Beavers
(Padres
) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Yankees
).
He went 4-0 with a 3.53 ERA
and 72 strikeout
s in 2008 with Scranton and became a free agent at the end of the season. On December 19, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
.
With the Isotopes, Strickland became the closer after the release of Tanyon Sturtze
. Strickland collected 32 saves in 34 opportunities, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 2.98 ERA with 57 strikeouts. On August 10 of that year, Strickland became the all time Albuquerque baseball saves leader with his 25th, in an 8-6 win over the Tacoma Rainiers
.
On December 14, 2009, Strickland signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
with an invitation to spring training.
He got called up to the Marlins on June 13, 2010 for the first time in 5 years and pitched in three games before he was sent back down. He became a free agent after the season.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, who is currently a free agent.
Strickland was selected by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the 10th round of the 1997 MLB Draft
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
out of the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. He played in the Expos minor league system from 1997-1999 with the Vermont Expos, Cape Fear Crocs
Cape Fear Crocs
The Cape Fear Crocs were a minor league baseball team in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They were a low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos for the franchise’s entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs. They played all of their home games at...
, Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
, Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
and Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
.
Strickland made his Major League debut on August 14, 1999 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He worked 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run in his debut. He was a relief pitcher for the Expos from 1999 through 2002, when the Expos traded him to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in a seven player transaction.
With the Mets, Strickland pitched in 68 games in 2002, finishing 6-9 with a 3.59 ERA. However, after appearing in only 19 games in 2003 he had to undergo Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and was sidelined for most of the next two years. He did not return to the Major Leagues until September 3, 2005 with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He only pitched four innings with the Astros that season.
From 2006-2008 he pitched in AAA with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
(Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
), Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
(Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
).
He went 4-0 with a 3.53 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 72 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 2008 with Scranton and became a free agent at the end of the season. On December 19, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
With the Isotopes, Strickland became the closer after the release of Tanyon Sturtze
Tanyon Sturtze
Tanyon James Sturtze is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.He attended Saint Peter-Marian High School then Quinsigamond Community College and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. In , he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the minor league portion of...
. Strickland collected 32 saves in 34 opportunities, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 2.98 ERA with 57 strikeouts. On August 10 of that year, Strickland became the all time Albuquerque baseball saves leader with his 25th, in an 8-6 win over the Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
.
On December 14, 2009, Strickland signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
with an invitation to spring training.
He got called up to the Marlins on June 13, 2010 for the first time in 5 years and pitched in three games before he was sent back down. He became a free agent after the season.