Tanner Scott didn’t sugarcoat anything when he spoke to reporters at DodgersFest this past Saturday.

Coming off a frustrating 2025 campaign, the Dodgers reliever made it clear that last season didn’t meet his standards — and that the lessons learned could shape a strong bounce-back year in 2026.

Scott acknowledged that much of his struggles stemmed from poor execution and abandoning what had previously made him successful.

He admitted he threw too many pitches over the heart of the plate, became predictable, and didn’t trust his best "put-away" offerings in key moments. Rather than finishing hitters, Scott said he often allowed contact in counts where he should have been attacking, something that repeatedly came back to hurt him.

Looking ahead, Scott emphasized a return to simplicity. Rather than chasing perfection, he’s focused on being himself again — the pitcher who found success in prior seasons by leaning into his strengths.

He explained that over the course of the year, he tried to change too much, drifting away from the approach that worked in 2023 and 2024. The result was inconsistency and frustration.

A late-season stint on the injured list, while disappointing, provided Scott with unexpected clarity. Being sidelined forced him to watch games rather than participate, giving him time to reflect on what went wrong and what needed to change.

In hindsight, Scott described the experience as a "blessing in disguise," allowing him to reset mentally heading into the offseason.

His confidence is returning, and Scott credited the Dodgers’ coaching staff and clubhouse culture for that belief.

He praised the organization for genuinely caring about players and their families, while also maintaining a relentless focus on winning. That environment, Scott said, makes it easier to trust the process and commit to improvement.

Scott also reacted positively to the Dodgers’ offseason additions, calling the bullpen "stacked" and expressing excitement about working alongside new teammates. While he hasn’t yet met everyone, the overall talent level has him energized for the year ahead.

As Spring Training approaches, Scott is optimistic that 2025 was an outlier rather than a trend.

With renewed confidence, a simplified game plan, and the backing of a deep Dodgers roster, he believes 2026 will look far more like the dominant version fans saw in previous seasons — and he’s eager to prove it.

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