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Scott Erickson
Scott Erickson
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Scott Gavin Erickson (born February 2, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees over 15 seasons. He was a member of the 1991 World Series champion Twins.

Key Information

Early life

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Erickson was born in Long Beach, California. He played baseball, soccer, football, and basketball at Homestead High School, in Cupertino, California. He was CCS Junior of the Year in baseball.

After completing his secondary education, he graduated from San Jose City College in 1988 with an AA degree in business. He was a Junior College 1st Team All American at San Jose. He then majored in accounting with a minor in psychology at the University of Arizona. Erickson was inducted into the Arizona Wildcat Hall of Fame after just one year of pitching at Arizona.[citation needed] Erickson set a school record for wins with an 18–3 record, as he led the country in wins (18), innings pitched (175), and complete games (14). Those impressive numbers earned him a unanimous First Team All-American honor. His teammates at Arizona included Trevor Hoffman, Kevin Long, and J. T. Snow.[1] In 1989, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

Career

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Minor leagues

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Erickson began his professional career after being selected in the major league draft four times. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1986 out of Homestead High School; the Houston Astros in 1987 and Toronto Blue Jays in 1988 out of San Jose City College; and in 1989 he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the amateur draft out of the University of Arizona. He finally signed his first pro contract with Minnesota. After 27 minor league starts,[3] Erickson rose to the major leagues in his second season of professional baseball with the Class AA Orlando Sun Rays.[4] He was on a five-game win streak with a record of 8–3 in the first half as an All Star in the Southern League.

Major leagues

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Minnesota Twins

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Erickson finished 1990 with a combined record of 16–7 between Double-A and the majors; he went 5–0 in September and tied Dave Stewart for American League Pitcher of the Month. In 1991, Erickson posted a record of 12–2 with a 1.39 ERA in the first half season and was awarded the American League Pitcher of the Month for May and June.[5] The Twins went on to win the World Series, and Erickson finished second to Roger Clemens for the American League Cy Young Award[6] and received votes for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.[7]

The following season, Erickson started 32 games, going 13–12 with 5 complete games. He regressed the following year, however, leading the majors with 19 losses. On April 27, 1994, Erickson no-hit the Milwaukee Brewers 6–0 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the first no-hitter ever pitched in that stadium. He became the third Twins pitcher, after Jack Kralick in 1962 and Dean Chance in 1967, to pitch a no-hitter; the former's had been the last no-hitter in a Twins home game, that game having taken place at the Metrodome's predecessor, Metropolitan Stadium.[8]

Baltimore Orioles

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In 1995, he started with a 4-6 record and 5.95 ERA with the Twins. His last start with the team was a 6–3 away win over the Baltimore Orioles on 4 July in which he and Scott Klingenbeck were the pitchers of record, three days before they were traded for each other on 7 July in a fire sale transaction which was completed two months later on 19 September when Kimera Bartee was sent to Minnesota.[9][10] More effective after the trade, Erickson turned in 9 wins in 16 starts for Baltimore. Between both teams, he finished 13–10 with 7 complete games. In 1996, Erickson won 13 games for the second straight year, with 6 complete games and 100 strikeouts for the 6th straight year. In 1997, Erickson turned in his best season since 1992, winning 16 games with a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts. He later signed a five-year, $32 million contract with Baltimore through 2003.[11] In 1998, Erickson once again won 16 games for the Orioles, while leading the league in complete games (11) and innings pitched (251.1).

In 1999, Erickson went 15–12 with a 4.81 ERA while leading the league in shutouts (3). He also led the majors in ground balls induced with 454.

On March 3, 2000, Erickson had bone chips removed from his elbow, and was out of action eight weeks.[12][13] Erickson made 16 starts for the Orioles in 2000. He was hampered by the nagging elbow issue and visited the disabled list twice, the second one being a season ending elbow injury.[14] After over 2000 innings pitched, the elbow injury caused him to miss the entire 2001 season. Erickson returned in 2002, becoming the first pitcher to start Opening Day after missing an entire season. That season, he made 28 starts, pitching 160.2 innings. In 2003, Erickson suffered a torn labrum and missed the entire 2003 season.[15][16]

Later career

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In 2004, Erickson signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets.[17] Set back by injury, he made his Mets' debut in July, then was traded to the Texas Rangers at the July 31 deadline.[18]

He was in the starting rotation for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005.[19]

Erickson signed a deal with the New York Yankees on February 16, 2006. He was released by the Yankees on June 19, and officially retired from baseball at the beginning of the 2007 season.

Pitching profile

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Erickson was a groundball pitcher. He led the league five times in most double plays in a season and is in the Top 5 in Major League history for groundball to flyout ratio.[citation needed]

Post-playing career

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Erickson was the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians Class A Advanced affiliate Carolina Mudcats of the Carolina League in 2012 and Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York–Penn League He was also the President of MLM, majorleaguemechanics.com, a pitching mechanics tutorial with professional instruction. Beginning in 2015, he has been a game analyst for the Pac-12 Network.

Personal life

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In late 2000, Erickson was featured in People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" edition. In 2004, Erickson married Lisa Guerrero, a television personality, actress, and investigative reporter with whom he founded HomeTeam Productions.[20][21] They were executive producers for the 2008 movie A Plumm Summer.[22] The marriage ended in divorce in 2019.

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In 2002, Erickson was arrested and charged with second-degree assault after an argument with then-girlfriend Lisa Ortiz spilled out into the hallway outside their condominium. Investigators later dropped the charges.[23]

On January 27, 2021, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office charged Erickson with reckless driving in connection with a 2020 hit-and-run that killed two young children.[24] Prosecutors alleged that Erickson and his then-lover Rebecca Grossman, a wealthy socialite and estranged wife of Peter Grossman, a prominent doctor and son of A. Richard Grossman, who founded the world-renowned, Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, California had been drinking cocktails at Julios, a restaurant in Westlake Village. They left Julio's in their separate SUV's and raced their vehicles through suburban streets at over 80 miles per hour (130 km/h), and struck and killed the two young brothers at a Westlake Village crosswalk.[25] During the murder trial against Grossman, her defense team argued that it was actually Erickson who struck the boys, placing the blame on him;[26][27] however the jury was not convinced, and Grossman was found guilty of double second degree murder.[25] Erickson's earlier misdemeanor in connection with the crash[24] was later dismissed after he made a public service message about safe driving.[28]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Scott Gavin Erickson (born February 2, 1968) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in (MLB) for fifteen seasons from 1990 to 2006. He is currently a mentor and coach with Perfect Game.
Erickson began his MLB career with the , where he quickly established himself as a key starter, winning 20 games in his 1991 rookie season to lead the (AL) while posting a 3.18 (ERA) over 32 starts. That year, he earned an selection, finished second in AL voting, and contributed to the Twins' championship with a 2-1 record and 2.04 ERA in the postseason. In 1994, while still with the Twins, Erickson pitched a against the Brewers at the , the first in the stadium's history, striking out five and walking four in a 6-0 victory.
After being traded to the Orioles midway through the 1995 season, Erickson spent much of his prime years there, leading the AL with 251⅓ and 11 complete games in 1998 en route to a 16-13 record. Over his career, he compiled a 142-136 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1,252 strikeouts, and 2,360⅔ across stints with six teams, including returns to the Orioles in 2002 and brief appearances with the , Texas Rangers, , and New York Yankees.

Early life

Childhood and family

Scott Gavin Erickson was born on February 2, 1968, in Long Beach, California. During his youth, Erickson developed a strong interest in sports, participating in baseball, soccer, football, and basketball at Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he graduated. Following high school, Erickson attended San Jose City College for two years before transferring to the University of Arizona.

College and amateur career

Erickson transferred to the after two years at , joining the Wildcats team as a under head coach Jerry Kindall for the 1989 season. In his junior year, Erickson delivered a dominant performance, compiling an 18-3 record with a 3.49 across 23 appearances, including 20 starts and 14 complete games, while pitching a school-record 172.2 and recording 116 strikeouts. His efforts helped anchor the pitching staff and contributed to the team's strong season, as the Wildcats finished 45-18-1 overall and 23-7 in Pac-10 play, capturing the South Division title and advancing to the NCAA West I Regional. Erickson's breakout campaign earned him First-Team All-American honors from Baseball America, Pac-10 South Co-Player of the Year recognition, and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week accolades twice during the season. He tied for the national lead in wins with 18, a mark that remains the Arizona single-season record, and at the time held school and Pac-10 records for (.857), , and complete games in a season. Following his junior season, Erickson was selected by the in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft out of and signed with the organization on , 1989.

Professional baseball career

Minor leagues

After being selected by the in the fourth round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the and signing on , 1989, Erickson began his professional career at the Class A Advanced level with the Visalia Oaks of the . In 12 starts that season, he recorded a 3-4 win-loss record with a 2.97 over 78.2 , striking out 59 batters while allowing 79 hits and walking 22. Erickson opened the 1990 season with the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the Orlando Sun Rays of the Southern League, where he demonstrated rapid development as a . In 15 starts, he achieved an 8-3 record, a 3.03 , and logged 101 innings, allowing 75 hits, 34 earned runs, and 3 home runs while recording 69 strikeouts. His strong performance earned him a call-up to the major leagues on June 25, 1990, marking the end of his initial progression after just one full season in the system. Across his brief early minor league tenure with the Twins from 1989 to mid-1990, Erickson compiled an 11-7 record with a 3.01 ERA in 27 starts over 179.2 , showcasing the power pitching that would define his major league career.

Minnesota Twins

Scott Erickson made his major league debut with the on June 25, 1990, against the Texas Rangers at the Metrodome, where he pitched six innings, allowed one earned run, and earned the win in a 9-1 . This performance marked his first major league win and highlighted his rapid transition from the earlier that season. In , Erickson's breakout season, he compiled a 20-8 record with a 3.18 over 32 starts and 204 innings pitched, leading the in wins and tying for the major league lead. He recorded five complete games and three shutouts, finishing second in the AL voting behind . Selected to his only that year, Erickson went 12-2 with a 1.39 before the break, earning AL Pitcher of the Month honors in May. Erickson contributed to the Twins' 1991 championship, starting Game 3 and Game 6 against the in the , as well as Game 3 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays. In Game 3 on October 22, he pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing three runs in a 5-4 extra-innings loss, but the Twins won the series in seven games. Overall in the 1991 postseason, he made three starts with a 2-1 record and 2.70 ERA over 16⅔ innings. On April 27, 1994, Erickson pitched a against the Brewers at the , the first in the stadium's history, striking out seven and walking three in a 6-0 . From 1992 to 1995, Erickson's performance declined amid arm injuries, including shoulder issues that affected his velocity and consistency. In 1992, he posted a 13-12 record with a 3.40 and five complete games in 32 starts. His record worsened to 8-19 with a 5.19 in , leading the AL in losses, followed by 8-11 and 5.44 in the strike-shortened 1994 season. Through mid-1995, he was 4-6 with a 5.95 in 15 starts before the Twins traded him to the Baltimore Orioles on for pitchers Scott Klingenbeck and a (later Kimera Bartee).

Baltimore Orioles

Acquired by the in a trade from the on July 7, 1995, Scott Erickson joined the team as a key starter in their rotation. Erickson's 1996 season with the Orioles was marked by a 13-12 record with a 5.02 over 222.1 in 34 starts, reflecting the challenges of playing for a team that finished second in the AL East. He rebounded strongly in 1997, posting a 16-7 record with a 3.69 in 33 starts and helping the Orioles reach the , where he earned a win in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians. From 1997 to 1999, Erickson enjoyed his peak years as a durable workhorse for , achieving back-to-back 16-win seasons in 1997 and while logging over 200 each year, a testament to his endurance despite the physical demands of pitching. In , he finished the year with a 16-13 record and a 4.01 ERA in 36 starts, leading the AL in games started, (251.1), and complete games (11). His 1999 campaign saw 15 wins against 12 losses with a 4.81 ERA over 230.1 in 34 starts, maintaining his role as a reliable innings-eater for the rotation amid the team's competitive push. Injuries began to impact Erickson significantly in 2000, when he went 5-8 with a 7.87 ERA in 16 starts and 92.2 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, causing him to miss the entire 2001 season. He returned in 2002, posting a 5-12 record with a 5.55 ERA in 28 starts and 160.2 before his release on August 8. Erickson's tenure with from 1995 to 2002 saw him amass an overall record of 79-68 with a 4.42 ERA in 206 starts, solidifying his reputation as a productive mid-rotation anchor. Signed to multi-year contracts, including a three-year, $10.35 million extension in 1998, Erickson's commitment to high-volume pitching endeared him to Baltimore supporters as the epitome of a gritty, -eating starter.

Later MLB teams

After being released by the Baltimore Orioles at the end of the 2002 season, Erickson missed all of 2003 recovering from a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. He signed a minor league contract with the in February 2004 and, following a strain that delayed his debut, made two starts for the team in , going 0-1 with a 7.88 over eight innings. On July 31, the Mets traded him to the Texas Rangers for minor leaguer Josh Hoffpauir. With Texas, Erickson made four starts down the stretch, helping him finish the year 1-4 overall with a 6.67 in six starts and 27 innings across both clubs, serving primarily as a spot starter to eat innings for depleted rotations. In January 2005, Erickson inked another deal, this time with the , where he earned a spot on the major league roster as a . He appeared in 19 games that season—eight as starts and 11 in —posting a 1-4 record and 6.02 ERA over 55⅓ , often tasked with providing length in low-leverage situations amid ongoing velocity and command issues from prior injuries. Erickson joined the New York Yankees on a contract in February 2006, transitioning to a role in the majors with nine appearances (all out of the ) before his release on June 11. In those outings, he recorded no decisions and a 7.94 ERA across 11⅓ , struggling with hard contact and walks. Following his release, he opted for retirement rather than pursuing further opportunities. Over his final three MLB seasons from 2004 to 2006, Erickson compiled a 2-8 record with a 6.43 ERA in 34 games (14 starts) and 93⅔ , reflecting diminished effectiveness as an aging innings-eater. This capped a 15-year big league career in which he finished 142-136 with a 4.59 ERA in 389 appearances.

Pitching style and achievements

Scott Erickson was known as a sinkerball pitcher who relied on inducing ground balls through a heavy sinking thrown in the low-90s, complemented by a and to keep hitters off-balance. His , typically clocked between 88 and 92 mph, featured significant movement that contributed to a career ground ball percentage of 55.5%, well above the league average during his era. This approach emphasized contact management over strikeouts, with a career strikeout rate of 4.8 K/9, allowing him to generate double plays—he led the five times in double plays induced by a . Erickson's also included an overhand , though his effectiveness often hinged on the sinker's ability to produce weak contact and ground outs at a ratio of 1.34 ground outs to fly outs, compared to the league's 0.78. Erickson's durability was a hallmark of his style, as he logged 2,369⅓ career innings over 15 seasons, including 51 complete games that underscored his role as a workhorse starter. In the 1990s, he ranked among the league leaders in innings pitched, finishing 10th overall for the decade while anchoring rotations for the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles with consistent volume—such as leading the AL with 251.1 innings in 1998. However, his control presented ongoing challenges, with a career walk rate of 3.8 BB/9 that occasionally led to high pitch counts and inflated WHIPs, culminating in a 1.46 career mark. Post-injury periods, particularly after a 1995 elbow strain, exposed vulnerabilities to home runs, as his sinker lost some bite and he surrendered 1.3 HR/9 in his later Orioles years, contributing to ERAs above 4.00 in several seasons. Among his major achievements, Erickson led the with 20 wins in 1991, a rookie-season performance that earned him a second-place finish in voting behind . He was selected to the 1991 All-Star Game and played a key role in the Twins' championship that year, starting Game 3 of the Fall Classic. Additional honors included leading the AL in complete games (11) and shutouts (3) in 1998 and 1999, respectively, highlighting his peak as a reliable innings-eater. Erickson's legacy endures as a quintessential 1990s workhorse, often compared to pitchers like for his ability to eat innings and stabilize rotations despite modest velocity or totals. His contributions were pivotal to the Twins' 1991 success and ' competitive mid-1990s teams, where he provided consistent starts amid injury-plagued staffs, amassing 142 wins and embodying the durable, ground-ball-oriented starter of his time.

Post-playing career

Coaching roles

After retiring from in 2006, Scott Erickson transitioned into coaching, beginning with roles in the Cleveland Indians' minor league system. In 2012, he served as the pitching coach for the Advanced-A , where he focused on developing young pitchers' fundamentals drawing from his own professional experience. The following year, 2013, Erickson continued in the organization as pitching coach for both the Rookie-level Arizona League Indians and the Class A , emphasizing command and pitch efficiency in short-season environments. In , Erickson took on a high school coaching position as the varsity coach at West York Area High School in , succeeding Czerwinski after the team's successful tenure. His focus there was on pitcher development, leveraging his MLB background to mentor student-athletes on and game preparation. Erickson held this role for one season, prioritizing foundational skills for emerging talent in a scholastic setting. Following his high school stint, Erickson shifted to private coaching and mentoring through his website, scottericksonpro.com, where he offers personalized instruction to youth and college-level players. His programs emphasize pitching and mental approach, helping athletes refine techniques such as grip and delivery while building resilience—insights derived from his career as a sinkerball known for durability over 15 MLB seasons. As of 2025, he has no active affiliation with organizations. Erickson has also been involved with Perfect Game, a prominent youth organization, where he imparts his expertise to the next generation. In late 2024, he co-coached on Perfect Game's Australian Baseball Tour from December 26, 2024, to January 4, 2025, guiding two teams of 13 young players (ages 12U and high school) in international competition and skill-building sessions. This role underscores his ongoing commitment to player development, fostering passion and international exposure for aspiring pitchers.

Broadcasting and media

Following his retirement from professional baseball, Scott Erickson transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a and game analyst for the since 2015. In this role, he provided expert commentary on games, including those featuring his , the Wildcats, as well as matchups across the conference such as Arizona State versus UCLA and Oregon State versus Stanford. His coverage continued until the Pac-12's dissolution in 2024, drawing on his extensive playing background to offer detailed breakdowns of pitching mechanics and strategies. Erickson's media ventures also include production work; in 2004, he co-founded HomeTeam Productions with his then-wife, , a television personality and reporter. The company focused on creating content, notably serving as executive producers for the 2007 independent film A Plumm Summer, a family adventure story inspired by Guerrero's childhood. HomeTeam Productions operated until around 2019, aligning with the end of their marriage. Erickson's broadcasting style emphasizes practical insights into pitcher development and game situations, informed by his 15 seasons in and subsequent coaching experience, which lends credibility to his on-air analysis of emerging talent.

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Scott Erickson married television personality and former sports reporter on February 3, 2004. The couple, who had agreed early in their relationship not to have children, co-founded HomeTeam Productions, company, which produced the 2007 independent family film A Plumm Summer. This venture marked Erickson's transition into media and entertainment following his retirement from , blending his personal life with professional pursuits in Hollywood. After 15 years of marriage, Erickson filed for from Guerrero on January 22, 2019, citing ; the couple had no children together. The dissolution aligned with Erickson's evolving post-playing career, as he navigated new opportunities away from the spotlight of . In 2020, amid Rebecca Grossman's separation from her husband, plastic surgeon Peter Grossman, she began a romantic relationship with Erickson. The relationship ended following a September 2020 incident in . In 2024, during Grossman's criminal trial, her daughter Alexis testified that Erickson had threatened to "ruin" her life and family if she revealed seeing him near the crash scene shortly after the event. Erickson has maintained a relatively private family life, with his relationships occasionally intersecting public scrutiny tied to his athletic and media endeavors. On September 29, 2020, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson was present at the scene of a fatal hit-and-run incident in , where brothers Mark Iskander, aged 11, and Jacob Iskander, aged 8, were killed while crossing the street in a crosswalk. Erickson, who was in a romantic relationship with Rebecca Grossman at the time, was driving a black 2007 Mercedes SUV ahead of Grossman's white Mercedes SUV, which struck the boys while traveling at 73 mph in a 45 mph zone. In January 2021, Erickson was charged with one count of in connection with the incident, stemming from his presence at the scene and initial statements to authorities. The charge was resolved through judicial diversion, and in 2021, Erickson pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence that included , , and a about safe driving; the case was dismissed later that year upon completion of these requirements. No further criminal charges have been refiled against Erickson as of November 2025. During Rebecca Grossman's 2024 criminal trial for the murders of the Iskander brothers, Erickson's role came under intense scrutiny as her defense team alleged that his struck the boys first, causing their bodies to "vault" onto Grossman's vehicle, and that he subsequently fled the scene while using "cold plates"—temporary or fake license plates—to obscure his identity. Grossman's testified that she saw Erickson hiding nearby in bushes after the crash and that he threatened her, warning her not to tell police about his involvement. Erickson took the stand and denied striking anyone or using fake plates, maintaining that he had passed the crosswalk before the collision occurred; prosecution experts rebutted the defense's vaulting theory as physically implausible based on forensic evidence. Grossman was convicted on all counts in February 2024 and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in June 2024. In January 2021, the Iskander family filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Erickson, Grossman, and her husband Peter Grossman (as the owner of her vehicle), seeking damages for the deaths of Mark and Jacob. The case, ongoing in as of November 2025, has seen procedural developments including disputes over witness depositions, such as Grossman's daughter and husband, and a denied motion by Grossman to relocate the trial venue. A is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026, in Superior Court.

References

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