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Monday, October 31, 2022

Scott Fredrickson saw a high school injury turn into a pitch that helped get him to bigs with Rockies


Scott Fredrickson broke his wrist in high school. After recovering, he seemed to have a new pitch, his cut fastball, he recalled to The San Bernardino County Sun at high-A High Desert in 1991.

While he had success with it, it was also sometimes hard to catch. It also seemed to cause some early troubles for him at High Desert, The Sun wrote.

"I'm not going to jump ship," Fredrickson told The Sun of his pitch. "It's my money pitch and I just need to throw strikes."

Fredrickson eventually threw cut fastballs - and strikes - to make the majors. He saw 25 relief outings with the Rockies in 1993, the extent of his major league career.

Fredrickson's career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the 14th round of the draft out of the University of Texas at Austin.

He started with the Padres at short-season Spokane. He went 3-3, with a 3.28 ERA over 26 outings, one start.

He moved to single-A Waterloo and high-A High Desert for 1991. He went 7-6 between the two teams, with a 1.72 ERA in 49 relief outings.

Fredrickson arrived at AA Wichita for 1992. Early that September, he gave up a single run while starting with two on and nobody out, while fighting a cold, The Wichita Eagle wrote.

"I couldn't keep my nose from running," Fredrickson told The Eagle.

Fredrickson went 4-7 in 56 relief outings for Wichita in 1992, with a 3.19 ERA. The Rockies then selected him in the expansion draft.

He started 1993 at AAA Colorado Springs. Then, April 29, he debuted in Denver with two hitless innings against St. Louis. He saw those 25 relief outings. He went 0-1, with a 3.21 ERA. His final big league game came July 23.

Fredrickson then missed 1994 to injury and played 1995 and 1996 at AAA Colorado Springs. He moved to the Pirates and AA Carolina in 1997 and also saw Taiwan with Brother. His 1997 campaign proved his last as a pro.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,060
Made the Majors:1,348-33.2%-X
Never Made Majors:2,712-66.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:548
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333

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