Scott McGough Working On Mechanical Changes

It was an up-and-down 2023 for right-handed reliever Scott McGough. After pitching an excellent season in Japan, he signed a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks. He was one of Arizona's most effective relievers for a dominant May-June stretch. 

Things deteriorated quickly however, as he ballooned up to a 4.73 ERA, before eventually landing on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Now, McGough is ready to attack the 2024 season, with some mechanical changes and a clean bill of health.

The right-hander has pitched in four games thus far. Although his first outing saw him allow three hits, a walk and two runs to the Texas Rangers, he's been steadily improving since, allowing just one hit and one walk in his last three games.

Yesterday, the reliever worked a scoreless inning against the Cincinnati Reds, with a strikeout, one walk and no base hits allowed. The right-hander commented postgame that he feels as if he's honing his control and overall performance this Spring.

"It felt really good, misses are getting smaller, which is kind of what you want to see… execution was better and the stuff looked better to me, and that’s what you're kind of doing in spring, checking off the boxes." 

“I feel great health-wise, super excited, because I feel fully healthy, ready to go. It’s been good so far, but just need to keep making those misses smaller and smaller.” McGough said.

McGough noted that he's working on some mechanical changes--that he's working toward a more open delivery, and working hard to keep himself at his best, and prevent another IL stint.

“I realized last year, watching some video, talking to some coaches and stuff, that I was kind of closing myself off more and more as the year went on, and so [I'm] just doing different things in the gym just to kind of like keep my hips open, and honestly the off-season, just get stronger, and better condition so you can withstand the whole season, because it’s a long season, it’s a grind, so just preparing yourself for that.”

"Your body gets tighter, I’m not a young kid anymore, so I’ve got to maintain, stay on top of that, so just stay more diligent on the pregame routine and stuff like that." McGough said.

The right-hander pitched in 63 games last season, frequently going more than a full inning. He logged 70 1/3 innings of work, despite missing the last two and a half weeks of the regular season and the playoffs.

This year, McGough will likely face less of a workhorse role, with the emergence of the Thompson-Ginkel-Sewald backend trio, as well as a slew of options in the middle and long relief roles. McGough will have the opportunity to pitch on more of a schedule, increasing his chances of staying healthy, and reducing fatigue-related control issues that might have arisen as a result of his heavy usage in 2023.