Eric Stout

2.1. Minor League and Independent League

After being drafted, Stout signed with the Kansas City Royals and began his professional career. In 2014, he was assigned to the Idaho Falls Chukars, where he spent his entire first season, recording a 5-2 win-loss record with a 3.58 ERA over 32 and two-thirds innings pitched. The following year, in 2015, Stout played for multiple Royals affiliates, including the Arizona League Royals, Lexington Legends, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and returning to the Idaho Falls Chukars, finishing with a combined 0-1 record and a 3.15 ERA across 20 games.

In 2016, he primarily played for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, posting a 6-4 record and a 3.86 ERA in 42 appearances. The 2017 season saw him pitch for the Omaha Storm Chasers, where he achieved a 5-2 record and a 2.99 ERA in 45 games. On November 20, 2017, the Royals added Stout to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He started the 2018 season back with Omaha before his first promotion to the Major Leagues.

On January 4, 2019, Stout signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization but was released on March 27, prior to the season's start. He then signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on April 1, 2019. His contract was subsequently purchased by the Cincinnati Reds on May 31, 2019. He spent the remainder of 2019 with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he accumulated a 6.27 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 60 and one-third innings in 20 contests, and also made one appearance for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. Following the season, he elected free agency on November 4.

Stout re-signed with the Kansas City T-Bones on March 4, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the T-Bones were not selected to compete in the condensed 60-game season. Stout was later drafted by the Chicago Dogs in the 2020 dispersal draft and was released by them on July 31. On January 20, 2021, he signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball, where he recorded a 2-1 record and a 1.96 ERA in 4 appearances. His contract was purchased by the Miami Marlins organization on June 6, 2021, assigning him to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. In 7 appearances for Jacksonville, Stout had a 0-2 record with a 10.19 ERA and 21 strikeouts before being released by the Marlins on August 12. He then re-signed with the Kansas City Monarchs on August 27, 2021, for a second stint.

On March 8, 2022, the Chicago Cubs organization purchased Stout's contract from the Monarchs. After a brief time in the Major Leagues, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 16, 2022. On November 10, Stout was removed from the Pirates' 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, electing free agency the same day. On December 15, 2022, Stout signed a minor league contract to return to the Chicago Cubs, but he was released without making an appearance for the organization on April 12, 2023. The next day, April 13, 2023, Stout signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. He pitched in 21 games (4 starts) for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, logging a 4.20 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 40 and two-thirds innings, before being released by the Mariners on July 16.

2.2. Major League Baseball (MLB)

Stout made his Major League Baseball debut on April 24, 2018, with the Kansas City Royals.

He was designated for assignment on September 5, and subsequently released on September 10 of that year.

He returned to the MLB with the Chicago Cubs, who selected his contract on June 13, 2022. Stout pitched two games for the Cubs during this period. In his second game on June 15, he notably struck out four consecutive San Diego Padres batters. However, he was designated for assignment by the Cubs just three days later, on June 16.

Later that same day, June 16, 2022, Stout was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Pirates, he recorded his first career save on August 10, 2022. Pitching in relief against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he replaced Wil Crowe and retired the only batter he faced to close out the game.

2.3. International Leagues

Beyond his time in MLB and independent circuits, Eric Stout has also pursued opportunities in international baseball leagues, playing in both the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) and the KBO League.