Scrivener was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 1968 Major League Baseball January Draft, Secondary Phase. Scrivener was described by Detroit sports writer Jim Hawkins as "the forgotten man in the Tigers' farm system, forever playing second-string behind each new promising shortstop that came along." An injury to
Tom Veryzer in May 1976 provided Scrivener with his first opportunity to start at shortstop. Scrivener appeared in a total of 80 games in 1976, including 38 starts at second base and 28 at shortstop. He compiled a .221 batting average and a .282
on-base percentage with seven doubles, a
triple, and two home runs. Scrivener again remained with the Tigers in 1977, though he spent most of the season on the bench. He appeared in 61 games but was a starter in only 21 games. His batting average dropped to .083 with only six hits in 72 at bats. He appeared in his last major league game on September 29, 1977. At the time, Scrivener said: "Sometimes I didn't think I was a big leaguer anyway." He added that "once you start going downhill, it's tough to start going uphill again." Scrivener signed with the
Toronto Blue Jays in 1979, but he injured his knee and never appeared in a game. ==Later years==