Joseph McDonald Sceroler (/sʌˈrlər/ suh-ROHL-er;[1] born April 9, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Mac Sceroler
Sceroler with the Dayton Dragons in 2018
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1995-04-09) April 9, 1995 (age 29)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 2021, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average14.09
Strikeouts11
Teams

Career edit

Amateur edit

Sceroler attended Denham Springs High School in Denham Springs, Louisiana, and Southeastern Louisiana University, where he played college baseball for the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.[2] In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] The Philadelphia Phillies selected Sceroler as a draft-eligible sophomore in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign so that he could return to Southeastern Louisiana for his junior year.[4]

Cincinnati Reds edit

The Cincinnati Reds selected Sceroler in the fifth round, 137th overall, of the 2017 MLB draft,[5] and he signed with the Reds.[6] He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Billings Mustangs in 2017, posting a 3.26 ERA in 12 games.[7] Sceroler opened the 2018 season with the Single-A Dayton Dragons, but missed time due to a strained oblique muscle, ultimately finishing the year with a 4-8 record and 4.97 ERA between Billings and Dayton.[8] In 2019, he pitched for the High-A Daytona Tortugas, logging a 5-4 record and 3.69 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 117.0 innings of work.[9] Sceroler did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Baltimore Orioles edit

The Baltimore Orioles selected Sceroler from the Reds in the 2020 Rule 5 draft.[11] He made the Orioles' Opening Day roster.[12] On April 5, 2021, Sceroler made his MLB debut, relieving Paul Fry to face Aaron Judge with the bases loaded in a game against the New York Yankees, whom he struck out on 6 pitches. In his debut he threw 2.2 innings, recording 4 strikeouts. Sceroler struggled to a 14.09 ERA in 5 appearances before being designated for assignment on June 22.[13]

Cincinnati Reds (second stint) edit

On June 26, 2021, Sceroler was returned to the Cincinnati Reds organization and assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.[14] In 10 appearances for Chattanooga, he struggled to a 1–4 record and 8.42 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 36+13 innings pitched.[15]

Sceroler suffered a rotator cuff tear prior to the 2022 season, and missed the entire year after undergoing surgery to repair a SLAP (Superior Labrum, Anterior to Posterior) tear.[16]

Sceroler was assigned to Double–A Chattanooga to begin the 2023 season.[17] He ultimately split the season between the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Reds, Dayton, and Chattanooga, posting a cumulative 5.89 ERA and 22 strikeouts across 11 games. Sceroler elected free agency following the season on November 6.[18]

Personal life edit

Two of Sceroler's uncles, Ben McDonald and Brett Laxton, played in Major League Baseball.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Major League Baseball 2021 Player Name Presentation Preferences and Pronunciations (Baltimore Orioles page). Retrieved May 2, 2021
  2. ^ "PRO BASEBALL | Denham Springs' Sceroler selected by Orioles in Rule 5 Draft | Sports". livingstonparishnews.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mac Sceroler - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "Denham native Mac Sceroler will be back for junior season at Southeastern | Sports". livingstonparishnews.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "BASEBALL | Reds pick Denham Springs' Sceroler in fifth round of MLB draft | Sports". livingstonparishnews.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "SLU ace Mac Sceroler taken by the Reds in the fifth round of the MLB draft, will forgo senior season | Sports". theadvocate.com. June 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "BASEBALL | Billings Mustangs taking things slowly with former Denham Springs, Southeastern pitcher Mac Sceroler | Sports". livingstonparishnews.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Sceroler makes strong second impression for Dragons".
  9. ^ a b Zach Dean. "Baseball runs in the family for Daytona Tortugas pitcher Mac Sceroler - Sports - Daytona Beach News-Journal Online - Daytona Beach, FL". News-journalonline.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  10. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  11. ^ Meoli, Jon. "Orioles select pitchers Mac Sceroler and Tyler Wells in Rule 5 draft, lose pitchers Zach Pop, Gray Fenter". capitalgazette.com.
  12. ^ "Former Southeastern pitcher Sceroler makes Orioles opening day roster". Crescent City Sports. March 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "Orioles Select Mickey Jannis". MLB Trade Rumors.
  14. ^ "Orioles Return Rule 5 Pick Mac Sceroler To Reds". mlbtraderumors.com.
  15. ^ "Mac Sceroler - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  16. ^ "Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Mac Sceroler, after shoulder surgery, eyes return to MLB". cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Chattanooga Lookouts 2023 Opening Day roster". redsminorleagues.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.

External links edit