By Brigette Ramirez
UGA Sports Communications

From Connecticut to California and now Athens, Ga., Matt Scott’s baseball journey has led him around the country. 

The 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher from Redding, Conn., spent the last three seasons at Stanford University, where he made 38 career starts and 51 total appearances, recording a 5.69 ERA and 221 strikeouts over 199.1 innings.

Along his journey to Athens, Scott also made stops in Omaha, Neb., as Stanford advanced to the 2023 College World Series his freshman year and Cary, N.C., as a member of the 2024 USA Collegiate National Team.

Now, Scott joins the top transfer class in the country at Georgia, where he looks to help the Bulldogs build upon their recent success. In this Q&A, the senior talks about his baseball journey, transferring to Georgia, his experience playing for his country, and much more.

Ramirez: How long have you been playing baseball, and when did you realize you wanted to play in college?

Scott: I’ve been playing baseball since T-ball when I was three or four. Then, when I wanted to play in college, probably around fifth or sixth grade. 

Ramirez: What made you realize that you had a chance to play at the next level?

Scott: I just really enjoyed it. I don’t think there was anything that really said I could play in college, it was just something that I always wanted to pursue. Maybe around eighth grade, freshman year is when I finally realized I could actually do this.

Ramirez: Your freshman year at Stanford, the Cardinal reached the College World Series. What was your experience in Omaha like?

Scott: It was unbelievable. You get there and you step out into the field and you just look out and you’re with other teams, you’re wearing a suit, all that kind of stuff. It feels real. It’s really cool. Then the first time you actually take the field, step on the mound for a pitcher, it’s an unbelievable feeling.

The playoffs in baseball are insane. It’s really hard to make it there. A couple of game sevens in the Regional and then game three in the Super (Regional). A lot of stuff has to go your way, so you see the magic that happens throughout the year. It’s really cool.

Ramirez: What was the most memorable moment of that season and experience for you?

Scott: Probably game three of the Super Regional. We played Texas and, I mean, it’s a pretty famous game. The ball got stuck in the lights to end it. We ended up winning on a walk-off, which was just insane. Seeing the outfielders not know where the ball was. Prior to that, too, we thought we hit a walk-off home run because the ball got lost in the lights for us. So, we all sprinted out there and stormed the field, and then it turns out the ball got caught in the sign, so it was only a double. The up and down moments of that game and the whole series in general was just unbelievable.

Ramirez: You also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2024. What did it mean to you to be selected to represent your country on an international stage, and what was the experience like?

Scott: There’s no better feeling than putting on that jersey. Being able to represent the greatest country in the world is just such a good feeling. Being with players from other teams that you’ve played against or played with prior is also really cool. You learn a lot from those guys, and then also the first time you hear the national anthem when you’re wearing that jersey is a special feeling.

Ramirez: What went into your decision to transfer to Georgia?

Scott: Being in the (transfer) portal, talking to a bunch of different schools, the biggest thing I was looking at was the pitching coach and the development as a whole. Coming here and hearing what other schools have to offer, it’s incredible things, but Georgia was just unmatched as opposed to everybody else.

(Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Wes Johnson) is the best coach in the country. One of the best baseball minds. Being around him and the whole staff in general was the largest factor in my decision.

Ramirez: You’re joined at Georgia by your former Stanford teammate Joey Volchko. Was that coincidence or planned?

Scott: It was coincidence I would say, because we were both in the portal at different times. I was in the portal probably a month before him, and I committed before he was in the portal, so it wasn’t like we were going through the process together. I had committed to Georgia, and then I want to say maybe a week later he hopped into the portal. 

We were both in the same boat, looking for the same things, I would say, so we had the right mindset in the portal. Looking for coaching, development and just a great environment. I guess it was kind of a coincidence that we both ended up in the same spot, but it doesn’t really surprise me with talking about our goals, being in the portal and what we were looking for. We both had the same mindset, like I said, so it’s not surprising we both ended up at Georgia.

Ramirez: Is it nice to have a familiar face at Georgia in Joey?

Scott: Definitely. It’s nice being with a bunch of new guys, especially with a big portal class. I think we have 22 or something like that. We have a lot. So, it’s nice to have at least one other guy that you really know.

Ramirez: How have you been liking Athens and the team and program so far?

Scott: I love Athens. Everything about this place is incredible. Everybody here loves the Dawgs, and that’s a really cool feeling. Saying you’re on an athletic team here, professors, other students, just random people you know, they ask you about yourself, and you tell them you’re on a sports team here — could be any sports team — they just love it and they’re all in. 

You see that at the football games, obviously. I haven’t been to a game at Foley (Field) when there’s an actual game, so I’m excited for that. 

Ramirez: You’ve now played in the Pac-12, ACC and soon the SEC. What have you learned from playing in multiple conferences that you’ll bring to SEC play in the spring?

Scott: The environments are obviously heightened a lot. Bigger venues, more people around you, fans, in the SEC, but for me, it’s gradually gotten more and more like that. The Pac-12, there’s some stadiums that pack out — you kind of ease into it a little bit; the ACC, there’s some more; and then SEC, every place you go it’s going to be packed out, so I’m really looking forward to that.

I think playing in those environments already — especially for three years going into my fourth — it’s going to bring a lot of experience that way. Just how to handle that. You walk a guy, and everybody’s going nuts in the stadium rooting against you, you’ve kind of been there before. I think that’s some of the experience I’ll bring.

Ramirez: If you didn’t play baseball, what other sport would you play?

Scott: Probably basketball. My dad played basketball in college, and basketball was my second-favorite sport growing up. I ended up stopping playing when I was a freshman (in high school) just because I started focusing solely on baseball, but definitely basketball.

Ramirez: What’s something someone wouldn’t know about you from your bio?

Scott: I guess one fun fact is, when I was younger, I moved up a grade and then I got held back, so I’ve been in two different grades. I was in kindergarten and moved up to first grade, and then after that, I did eighth grade twice. So, I went up a grade and then back down to be back where my age group is.

Ramirez: The 2025 MLB season just ended with the World Series last week. Do you have a favorite MLB team or player?

Scott: Big Yankees fan. My favorite player is Gerrit Cole.

Ramirez: What do you hope to achieve this year at UGA?

Scott: I want to win a national championship. Going to Omaha, it’s an incredible experience. We went 0-2 there, but just to go 0-2 there is a huge feat. It’s incredible, but I want to win the whole thing this year — and I think we have the team to do it.