Scott Terry

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1959)}}

{{for|the musician|Scott Terry (musician)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Scott Terry

|image=1987 Nashville Scott Terry.jpg

|caption=Terry with the Nashville Sounds in 1987

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1959|11|21}}

|birth_place=Hobbs, New Mexico, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 9

|debutyear=1986

|debutteam=Cincinnati Reds

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 13

|finalyear=1991

|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=24–28

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.73

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=262

|teams=

• Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1986}})
• St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|1987}}–{{mlby|1991}})

|highlights=

}}

Scott Ray Terry (born November 21, 1959) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during six seasons at the major league level for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.

Terry grew up in Portland, Texas and idolized Houston Astros outfielder César Cedeño as a youth.{{cite news |last1=Kay |first1=Joe |title=From outfielder to pitcher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113421715/from-outfielder-to-pitcher/ |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=Corpus Christi Times |agency=Associated Press |date=11 April 1986 |pages=17}} He attended Gregory-Portland High School in Portland where he played baseball and basketball. Although only {{height|ft=5|in=5}} tall as a senior, he could still dunk a basketball.{{cite news |last1=Hummell |first1=Rick |title=Jock Of All Trades |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113421630/jock-of-all-trades/ |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=31 August 1988 |page=1D}}

Terry played college baseball at Southwestern University, during which time he grew approximately six inches taller. His rapid growth spurt left him bow-legged and required multiple knee surgeries.{{cite news |last1=Hummell |first1=Rick |title=Jock Of All Trades |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113421662/jock-of-all-trades-cont/ |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=31 August 1988 |page=3D}}

Terry was drafted by the Reds in the 12th round of the 1980 amateur draft as an outfielder. He played his first professional season with their Class A-Advanced Tampa Tarpons in 1983. After struggling in the minor leagues for a few years and making a few successful appearances on the mound during blowout games, Reds executive Sheldon Bender suggested converting Terry to a pitcher. He prospered in the new role and rose quickly through the minors.

As of 2024, Terry still lives in the St. Louis area, and remains active in the St. Louis amateur sports scene, particularly pickleball.