Sport24.co.za | South Africa’s Scott makes MLB history
Cape Town – Tayler Scott became the first South African pitcher to appear in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game after making his debut for the Seattle Mariners this past weekend.
Scott became the second South African player in Major League history and the first pitcher.
In 2017, Gift Ngoepe became the first South African to play a MLB game. Ngoepe played 41 games with the Pirates, then was traded to the Blue Jays in 2017/18 and is currently in the minor league’s with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Scott, who moved to Arizona as a teenager, made his debut on Saturday (Sunday morning SA time) as the Mariners took on the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.
The 27-year-old Johannesburg native made his debut relieving team-mate Yusei Kikuchi during the fourth inning. He allowed four hits, three runs with a walk and four strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
The Mariners, who are currently at the bottom of the American League East standings, lost 12-3 to the Angels.
Scott signed with Seattle as a Minor League free agent in December and was called up after All-Star outfielder Mitch Haniger was placed on the 10-day injured list.
WATCH: Scott collecting his first career strikeout against Angel’s Wilfredo Tovar in the bottom the 4th: