Texas Rangers Reeling After Sudden Loss of Beloved Scout Scott Littlefield

The Texas Rangers and the baseball world are mourning the loss of Scott Littlefield, a deeply respected scout and longtime front-office advisor, who passed away Friday morning in Houston, Texas, while on assignment for the Rangers. He was 59.

Littlefield’s passing cuts to the heart of the scouting community. For 34 years, he made his living in the shadows of the game, traveling, evaluating, and advising — one of the countless voices behind the scenes who shape the future of Major League Baseball. To those who knew him, he wasn’t just a trusted scout, but a mentor, a friend, and the embodiment of what it means to dedicate your life to the game.

A Driving Force in Texas Rangers Baseball Operations

Littlefield joined the Rangers in 2009 as a professional scout and quickly became a cornerstone of the organization’s baseball operations department. By the time of his passing, he held the title of Special Assistant, Player Personnel, but within the club, his impact was much broader.

He influenced every layer of the Rangers’ scouting operation — professional player evaluation, amateur scouting, and international signings — and was often a sounding board for executives weighing critical decisions. His fingerprints can be found on some of the most successful eras in Rangers history, including six postseason runs and back-to-back American League pennants in 2010 and 2011.

In 2019, he was named the Red Jacket Scout of the Year, a recognition that underscored his contributions and the respect he commanded inside the Rangers’ front office.

“Scott was one of the most respected scouts in Major League Baseball,” said Rangers President of Baseball Operations Chris Young. “His voice carried weight in every conversation. He was an advisor, a mentor, and above all, one of the most genuine and caring people in the game.”

Beyond the Reports: A Mentor and a Friend

Scouting is often described as a lonely profession: long nights in small-town ballparks, countless hotel rooms, endless travel. For those who worked alongside Littlefield, what stood out was not just his eye for talent but his willingness to guide others through the grind.

Younger scouts often turned to him for advice on how to evaluate, how to build trust with players and families, and how to stay grounded in a business that can be unpredictable. His influence extended well beyond Texas, creating ripple effects across front offices leaguewide.

A Baseball Family Rooted in the Game

The Littlefield name is woven deeply into the fabric of Major League Baseball.

• His son, Tyler Littlefield, is a scout for the San Diego Padres.

• His daughter, Erika Littlefield, works as an amateur scouting assistant with the Baltimore Orioles.

• His brother Dave Littlefield served as General Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• His brother Mark Littlefield is the Medical Coordinator for the New York Yankees.

Few families can claim such wide-reaching influence across multiple organizations. For Scott, baseball was not just a profession but a family legacy, one that continues through his children and siblings.

Roots in Scouting: From the Braves to the Pirates to the Rangers

Littlefield’s career began in the early 1990s with the Atlanta Braves, where he scouted from 1991–97 during the franchise’s golden era of dominance. He later joined the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997–2004, where his brother Dave served as general manager.

These early years sharpened his eye for evaluating talent and gave him a front-row seat to both championship-caliber teams and rebuilding franchises. That balance of experience became a cornerstone of his credibility when he moved to Texas.

A Legacy of Dedication

Born in Maine and later based in Long Beach, California, Littlefield never strayed from the heart of the game. Even in his final days, he was doing what he loved most — scouting talent in Houston, Texas, and helping his team prepare for the future.

For many inside baseball, his death is a sobering reminder of how much the game depends on figures like him: the evaluators who work tirelessly behind the scenes, rarely in the spotlight, yet instrumental in shaping the rosters fans cheer for every night.

His passing leaves a hole not only in the Rangers organization but across the entire scouting community.

Remembering Scott Littlefield

Littlefield is survived by his wife, Heather, his children Tyler and Erika, and the extended Littlefield baseball family. Service details will be announced in the coming days.

His legacy will live on in the Rangers’ scouting department, in the young scouts he mentored, and in the generations of players he helped bring into professional baseball. For those who knew him, Scott Littlefield will be remembered not only as an exceptional scout, but as a man who loved the game, cared about people, and gave everything he had to baseball.