WooSox catcher Stephen Scott called 2023 season "crucial for his development"
If you are to ask Red Sox catching prospect Stephen Scott what position he was drafted as, he will respond with he’s “not really too sure.”
The Vanderbilt product started off his college career playing corner outfield. Entering his junior year, he ended up transitioning behind the plate and became their everyday guy while also sprinkling in some time at first base. He didn’t catch many games his senior year but an area scout for Boston liked what he saw in 2018. That led to being drafted in the tenth round in the 2019 draft by the Red Sox.
Scott began catching games in 2021 and switched to catcher full time during the 2022 season. That has taken him through 2023 where he finished the year in Worcester splitting catching duties with Caleb Hamilton and Ronaldo Hernandez.
“I think that was crucial for my development defensively this year.” Scott said on an episode of To the Show We Go. “To be able to watch both of those guys and to work with them every day and have Caleb be like a coach for me. Both of those guys would help out with drill work every single day. They would give me tips and tricks and say I should angle certain ways and think other ways to find the best thing for me.”
Both Hamilton and Hernandez were not brought back for 2024, so Scott is the only catcher who caught last year in Worcester to be coming back. The team did sign Roberto Perez and Mark Kolozsvary, who are both veterans with MLB experience, to add to the MLB catching depth if needed.
On top of his catching duties when the WooSox could find time to put him behind the plate, Scott played 12 games at first base for the first time since 2021.
“They worked with me a lot and gave me a crash course.” Scott recalled about his discussion to play first in Worcester. “Chad Tracy called me when I was on the drive from Portland to Worcester and asked me if I could play first for them. He knew it had been a bit since I played the position. To say there weren’t a few nerves before that game, I would be lying.”
Scott will be in a tough situation in 2024 as he needs to grab as much playing time early on from the two veterans that were brought into the organization. With Kyle Teel and Nathan Hickey looming in Portland, Scott will need to do all he can to show he can live up to his ceiling of being a true utility bat that has some pop. Maybe he will follow in the footsteps of a guy like Steven Vogt who he is so often compared to.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @ByAndrewParker
For additional Red Sox and Major League Baseball content, follow Beyond the Monster: Boston Red Sox on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr
Join our new Facebook group for all of our latest content, click the link here.
