Scott Downs

Scott Downs is an pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. Downs starred at Ridge Park High School in Louisville, KY where he was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball. Coming out of high school, Downs was selected in the 12th round of the 1994 amateur draft but declined a contract so that he could play college baseball at the University of Kentucky. Downs was drafted a second time in 1997 by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round, and this time Downs decided to make the leap to professional baseball. After a year in the Cubs' minor league system, Downs was traded to the Minnesota Twins as the player to be named later in an earlier trade that sent Mike Morgan from the Twins to the Cubs. The Twins sent Downs back to the Cubs in 1999 along with Rick Aguilera in exchange for Kyle Lohse. In 2000 the Cubs would trade Downs again, this time to the Montreal Expos in a deal for outfielder Rondell White. The Expos released Downs after moving to Washington, DC in 2004 and becoming the Washington Nationals. The Blue Jays signed Downs the a month later.

Fast Facts

1. Born: March 17, 1976
2. Birthplace: Louisiana, Kentucky
3. MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000

Scouting Report

Strengths

Downs is a left-handed reliever who throws strikes, and can also fill in for an occasional start, making him a something of a major league commodity[1].

Weaknesses

Downs must keep the ball down in the zone in order to be effective. He is not a power pitcher[2].

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