Scott_Oberg

Scott Oberg

Scott Oberg

American baseball player (born 1990)

Scott Michael Oberg (born March 13, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He currently serves as a special assistant to baseball operations for the Colorado Rockies. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for five seasons with the Rockies. Oberg played college baseball at the University of Connecticut.

Quick Facts MLB debut, Last MLB appearance ...

Career

College

Oberg played college baseball at the University of Connecticut for the Huskies from 2009 to 2012. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] In 2011, he underwent Tommy John surgery.[2]

Colorado Rockies

Oberg was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4] He signed with the Rockies and made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies.[5] In 2013, he played for the Modesto Nuts.[6] Pitching for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 2014, Oberg appeared in only 27 games due to injury.[7]

When the Rockies placed John Axford on family leave on April 12, 2015, the Rockies promoted Oberg to the major leagues.[8][9] Oberg finished his rookie year with an ERA of 5.09 and notched 44 strikeouts in 58.1 innings of work.[10] In 2016 for Colorado, Oberg recorded a 5.19 ERA with 20 strikeouts across 26.0 innings of work.[11]

In the 2017 season, Oberg appeared in 66 games for the Rockies, with an ERA below 5.00 for the first time in his career (4.94), and a career-high in strikeouts (55).[12] In 2018 for Colorado, Oberg recorded an 8-1 record with a stellar 2.45 ERA and a new career-high in strikeouts (57) in 58.2 major league innings.[13] Oberg was the winning pitcher in the 2018 National League Wild Card Game against the Chicago Cubs, becoming the first reliever to win a postseason game when facing at least four batters and striking out all of them.[14] On January 10, 2019, Oberg agreed to a $1.3MM contract to avoid arbitration with the Rockies.[15]

On August 19, 2019, the Rockies placed Oberg on the 60-day injured list due to issues with blood clots in his arms, ending his season.[16] In 2019, Oberg produced a 6–1 record with a 2.25 ERA, 5 saves, and 58 strikeouts in 56 innings.[17] Oberg began the 2020 season on the injured list and was placed on the 45-day injured list with blood clots in his right arm, shutting down his 2020 season without making an appearance.[18] On March 26, 2021, Oberg underwent surgery to treat blood clots in his pitching elbow, the third surgery Oberg has had to treat blood clots.[19] On March 27, Oberg was placed on the 60-day injured list with his career in jeopardy after undergoing the surgery.[20]

On November 8, 2022, the Rockies declined Oberg’s team option, and he became a free agent for the first time in his career.[21]

Post-playing career

On January 10, 2023, Oberg took to Instagram to announce his retirement, “I have accepted a part-time position with the Rockies and will no longer be pursuing the game I’ve loved my whole life, as a player. — Unfortunately the numerous blood clots I suffered over the course of my career has made playing untenable.” Oberg wrote. His official role was listed as a special assistant to baseball operations. Oberg had not pitched professionally in three seasons at the time of his retirement.[22]

Personal

Oberg and his wife, Diana, have one daughter together.[23] They reside in New Jersey in the offseason.[24]

References

  1. [1]
    "2009 Bourne Braves". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. [2]
    "After setbacks, Tewksbury's Oberg climbing the ladder". lowellsun.com. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Colorado Rockies draft Scott Oberg". Homenewshere.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. [4]
    "Tewksbury High Alum Scott Oberg Drafted By Colorado Rockies". Tewksbury, Massachusetts Patch. June 6, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  5. [5]
    "Tewksbury's Oberg making his first pitch with Rockies". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Oberg continues to climb ladder in professional baseball". Homenewshere.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  7. [7]
    "Oberg's terrific season cut short". Homenewshere.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  8. [8]
    "Rockies place John Axford on family medical emergency list, call up Scott Oberg". denverpost.com. April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  9. [9]
    Hartford Courant (April 12, 2015). "Former UConn Pitcher Oberg Called Up By Rockies". courant.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  10. [10]
    McKinley, Eric Garcia (November 2, 2015). "Scott Oberg was a positive contributor in 2015". Purple Row.
  11. [11]
    Farrell, Connor (October 23, 2016). "Ranking the Rockies, No. 24: Scott Oberg". Purple Row.
  12. [12]
    Schoppe, Ryan (October 27, 2017). "Scott Oberg took an important step in 2017 for the Rockies". Purple Row.
  13. [13]
    Brennan, Patrick (February 14, 2019). "How Scott Oberg became a more impactful pitcher in the second half". Beyond the Box Score.
  14. [14]
    "Pitching Game Finder: In the Postseason, From 1903 to 2018, Pitcher Won, as Reliever, (requiring BF>=4, SO>=4 and BF=SO), sorted by greatest SO". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  15. [15]
    Staff, M. H. S. "Rockies and Scott Oberg agree on one-year deal after successful 2018 season |".
  16. [16]
    RotoWire Staff (August 19, 2019). "Rockies' Scott Oberg: Moves to 60-day IL". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  17. [17]
    Nick Groke (August 18, 2019). "Scott Oberg suffers another blood clot, leaving the Rockies concerned about the future of their best reliever". The Athletic. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  18. [18]
    "Rockies' Scott Oberg suffers blood clots in arm, likely done for season". August 2, 2020.
  19. [19]
    "Scott Oberg Undergoes Surgery To Remove Blood Clots; Career In Jeopardy". MLB Trade Rumors.
  20. [20]
    "Rockies Select Chi Chi Gonzalez To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors.
  21. [21]
    "Scott Oberg: Becomes free agent". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  22. [22]
    "Oberg, 2018 WC hero, joins Rox's front office". mlb.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  23. [23]
    "Rockies' Scott Oberg: How the resilient right-hander became a closer". August 4, 2019.
  24. [24]
    "Rockies' Scott Oberg hopeful surgery will allow him to pitch in 2021". September 29, 2020.
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