MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee pitcher Matt Scott will sign a contract with the Reno Silver Sox in the Golden Baseball League this week, the third Blue Raider player this season to ink with a professional organization.
Scott joins teammates Matt Ray (Oakland A's) and Wayne Kendrick (Cincinnati Reds) in extending their baseball careers into the professional ranks. The Golden Baseball League is an independent league with seven teams, mostly in California, including the Chico Outlaws, Fullerton Flyers, Long Beach Armada, San Diego Surf Dawgs, St. George Roadrunners and Yuma Scorpions.
"I'm excited for the opportunity but a little hesitant because it's been a while since I've pitched and I'm going to jump right into the starting rotation either Wednesday or Thursday," Scott said. "I also have a manager and a pitching coach with major league pitching experience, so playing for those two guys should be a big help as well."
Les Lancaster is the manager of the Silver Sox. Lancaster pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987-93 with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. Dusty Bergman is the pitching coach for Reno and finished his professional career last season in AAA. Bergman played in the Majors in 2004 with the Anaheim Angels.
Scott could make his professional debut Thursday at Long Beach when the Silver Sox begin a series against the Armada. Reno plays at Long Beach Thursday-Sunday and then at St. George next week, Monday-Wednesday.
Ray is playing with the Vancouver Canadians in Vancouver, British Columbia, while Kendrick is with the GCL Reds in Sarasota, Fla. Both Ray and Kendrick play their first professional games Tuesday.
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