Scott Littlefield, a revered scout with a 34-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), died on Friday while on duty. Littlefield, 59, had been a part of the Texas Rangers for the past 16 seasons. His death was attributed to a heart attack, following heart surgery he underwent two years ago.
Chris Young, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations, expressed his sorrow in a statement issued by the team. He lauded Littlefield’s substantial contributions to the organization, emphasizing his impact in various aspects of the baseball operation. This included professional, amateur, and international scouting, as well as Major League player evaluation. Young also portrayed Littlefield as a valuable advisor and resource.
Littlefield’s scouting career commenced in 1991 with the Atlanta Braves. He subsequently worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997 to 2004 and the San Diego Padres from 2005 to 2009 before joining the Rangers. At the time of his death, Littlefield was serving as a special assistant for player personnel for the Rangers. He was part of the team’s staff during six postseason appearances, including the 2023 World Series run.
Littlefield’s love for baseball was a family affair. His two brothers, two children, and several other family members have all been employed by MLB teams. His brother Dave was a former general manager for the Pirates, while his brother Mark is the medical coordinator for the New York Yankees. His daughter Erika is an amateur scouting assistant for the Baltimore Orioles, and his son Tyler is a scout for the Padres.
Mike Anderson, a fellow scout for the Rangers, paid homage to Littlefield, characterizing him as a “scout’s scout” who had a deeper love for baseball and scouting than anyone he had ever encountered. Anderson noted that scouting was the only job Littlefield ever desired, and he devoted 34 years of his life to it.
The Rangers paid tribute to Littlefield with a moment of silence before their game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday.