I’ve always found Luke Scott to be vastly under-rated. He has hit at every stop he’s made, and even slugged for the cycle last July while with the Houston Astros. What’s kept Scott from becoming a legitimate player and a household name has been a lack of opportunity, which is going to change this spring when he wins the left-field job in Baltimore.

Traded to the Orioles with four other players for former AL MVP Miguel Tejada in December, Scott has never had an every-day starting job for an entire season with any club. The closest he has come was a 2005 stint at AA-Round Rock, and in that season the 29-year-old belted 31-homers and drove in 87-runs.

As a rookie with the Astros back in 2006 Scott smacked 10-homers and plated 37-runs in a 65-game stay in the big-leagues. Last season, in a 132-game sample-size, Scott boosted his home run and RBI totals to 18 and 64. 

I fully anticipate Scott to hit for major power next season, primarily because I’m expecting his sweet lefty-swing to play well at Camden Yards. I’d be surprised if he didn’t hit 25-homers and I don’t think that a 30-tater season is completely out of the question for Scott.

Here are a few worth-while facts on Luke Scott… Who will start in Baltimore’s outfield alongside and Nick Markakis and a center-fielder to be named later. (Where is Corey Patterson when you need him? Oh wait, he’s available).

Meet Luke Scott 

-Scott was drafted in the 9th round out of Oklahoma State by the Cleveland Indians

-During the fall of 2003, Scott raked at a .352 clip in 71 Arizona Fall League at-bats

-During the winter of 2006, Scott hit .345 with 12-homers in a 119 at-bat stay in the Venezuela

-Underwent successful 2001 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow