Dodgers fans close out spring training with one last overreaction about Tanner Scott

Tanner Scott was having a great spring training ... until Sunday night.

The Dodgers played the first game in their requisite three-game Freeway Series to wrap up spring training, and were absolutely trouncing the Angels through the sixth inning after a 10-spot in the third and an RBI single from Will Smith in the sixth, to add insult to injury.

Scott took over in the bottom of the sixth and quickly gave up a leadoff single to Mike Trout, then a walk to Nolan Schanuel. Jorge Soler got to a 2-0 count before sending a fastball way up in the zone 410 feet into center field.

The reaction from Dodgers and non-Dodgers fans alike was instantaneous. Multiple iterations of the exact same (deeply unfunny) sentiment "Tanner Scott in midseason form" were tacked onto MLB's highlight of the homer.

We're no great fans of Scott ourselves, and the jury's very much still out on how he'll bounce back in 2025. But the guy was having an almost-perfect spring training up to that point, and he gave up a meaningless homer in a rout that the Dodgers went on to win 13-5. In this scenario, we're willing to cut the guy some slack.

Dodgers fans overreact to Tanner Scott giving up a three-run homer against Angels

Scott pitched 6 1/3 scoreless — well, if we don't count two unearned runs against the Reds — through most of spring training with only a single walk allowed to nine strikeouts. He gave up his first earned run of camp to the Giants on March 18 on a solo homer, but he also notched two more Ks during that outing.

The problem last year was that Scott wasn't missing bats in the way he used to. Two walks to 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings does hint that the Dodgers have helped him recover some off that swing-and-miss stuff.

The pitch to Soler — a 97.2 MPH fastball that painted the top of the zone — wasn't even a bad pitch. It's less a knock on Scott and more a credit to Soler that he managed to knock that one out of the park.

You won't find much Tanner Scott apologism here, but we'll take his side in this case. Expectations are lower for him this year with Edwin Díaz becoming the first official Dodgers closer in years. That's not to say that there's any less pressure for Scott to live up to his huge contract and prove himself after a career-worst season, but we shouldn't discount his clear improvements after just one homer.