Jameson Taillon

Jameson Lee Taillon (born November 18, 1991) is a Canadian-American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Jameson Taillon
Taillon with the Pirates at Wrigley Field in 2017
New York Yankees – No. 60
Pitcher
Born: (1991-11-18) November 18, 1991
Lakeland, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 8, 2016, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through May 1, 2019)
Win–loss record29–24
Earned run average3.67
Strikeouts419
Teams

The Pirates chose Taillon as the second overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016. The Pirates traded Taillon to the Yankees before the 2021 season.

Early life

Jameson Taillon was born in Lakeland, Florida to Christie and Michael Taillon on November 18, 1991.[1][2] As he was born in Florida and his parents were born in Canada, Taillon is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.[3] Taillon attended The Woodlands High School in Texas. He caught the attention of scouts with a 22–6 win-loss record in his high school career. He was 8–1 his senior year and threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter against rival Conroe High School on March 23, 2010.[4][5]

Professional career

Minor league career

Prior to the 2010 MLB draft, Fangraphs called Taillon the best high school pitching prospect since Josh Beckett.[6] Baseball America compared him to pitchers like Stephen Strasburg.[7] The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Taillon with the second overall selection of the draft. He had signed a National Letter of Intent with Rice University in November 2009 posing a challenge to the Pirates in their effort to sign him.[8][9] However, hours before the signing deadline, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Taillon had indeed signed with the Pirates.[10] Baseball America's Jim Callis reported that Taillon's deal included a $6.5 million signing bonus, the second-highest in draft history.[11]

Taillon made his professional debut with the West Virginia Power against the Hagerstown Suns on April 27, 2011. He joined the team on April 24 after staying in Florida for an extended spring training assignment.[12] He spent the whole season with the Power, going 2–3 with a 3.98 earned run average (ERA) in 23 starts.

Taillon was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.[13] He began the season with the Bradenton Marauders and he was promoted to the Altoona Curve in August 2012.[14] In his first week with the Curve, August 20–26, 2012, Taillon was named the Eastern League pitcher of the week.[15] In 26 starts between the two teams, he was 9–8 with a 3.55 ERA.

Prior to the 2013 season, Taillon was ranked as the 15th best prospect in baseball by MLB.com.[16] Taillon participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic for Team Canada, being the youngest member of the team at age 21.[17] He began the season with Altoona and was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians in August. In 26 games (25 starts) between both clubs, Taillon compiled a 5–10 record and 3.73 ERA.

Taillon underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2014 to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in his throwing arm, costing him the 2014 season,[18] while a sports hernia caused him to miss the 2015 season.

Pittsburgh Pirates (2016–2020)

Taillon returned in 2016 with the Indians, where he made 10 starts before earning his first major league call-up. Taillon went 4–2 with a 2.04 ERA, striking out 61 in 61.2 innings and walking only 6. On June 8, Taillon was recalled to make a spot start with the Pirates, who decided to push back Francisco Liriano's start one day after they played a doubleheader the day before.[19] Facing off against fellow 2010 first rounder Noah Syndergaard in his debut, Taillon threw 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, not receiving a decision in the eventual 6–5 loss. After the game, Taillon was optioned back to Triple-A, but not without receiving compliments from his manager Clint Hurdle on his effort, saying "This kid's poured into everything he's done. It's been a great fight back."[20] However, his stay in Indianapolis was very brief, as an injury to Gerrit Cole necessitated a move to bring Taillon back into the rotation.[21] On June 14, Taillon made his second start, also against the Mets, throwing 8 scoreless innings, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh before it was broken up by Curtis Granderson, and recording his first win in the 4–0 victory. He spent the remainder of 2016 with Pittsburgh. In 18 starts he compiled a 5–4 record and 3.38 ERA.

2017 was Taillon's first season in the starting rotation. He was placed on the disabled list in May as he underwent surgery for testicular cancer.[22] He was activated in June. In 25 starts, he pitched to an 8–7 record and 4.44 ERA.

The following season, Taillon spent the entire season on the roster without being injured, pitching to a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. He was 14–10 in 191 innings. In 2019, Taillon's season was cut short due to a forearm injury, he was shut down for the remainder of the season on August 2, 2019 as he would undergo surgery. He was 2–3 with a 4.10 ERA in 7 starts.[23] On August 14, he underwent surgery to repair a flexor tendon as well as UCL revision, a condition that made him miss all of 2020 as well.

New York Yankees (2021–present)

On January 24, 2021, the Pirates traded Taillon to the New York Yankees for prospects Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikol Escotto, and Canaan Smith.[24]

Personal life

Taillon underwent surgery for testicular cancer on May 8, 2017[25][26] and made his first rehab start three weeks later, giving up one run in three innings.[27]

Scouting report

Taillon stands at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and has a fastball that has hit 99 miles per hour (159 km/h) as well as a "plus" curveball according to MLB.com.[28] Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said of Taillon, "He has the stuff that allows you to envision down the road a top-of-the-rotation starter."[29]

Taillon describes his pitch repertoire as being a four-seamer at 94–98 miles per hour (151–158 km/h), a two-seam fastball at 93–96 miles per hour (150–154 km/h), a "power" curveball with diagonal break, and a circle changeup. He says of his pitch selection, "I feel pretty confident right now that I can throw pretty much any pitch in any count."[30]

References
  1. Keown, Tim (July 4, 2017). "Jameson Taillon's six weeks from cancer diagnosis to recovery". Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. "All Saints, Vanderbilt star Carson Fulmer goes No. 8 overall in MLB draft to Chicago White Sox". The Ledger. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. Brudnicki, Alexis (March 5, 2013). "Dual citizen Jameson Taillon 'honoured' to pitch for CanadaDual citizen Jameson Taillon 'honoured' to pitch for Canada". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  4. "Pirates select Jameson Taillon in first round of Draft". MLB.com. June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  5. Sam Kahn, Jr. (April 20, 2010). "The Woodlands pitcher Taillon wowing major league scouts". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  6. Bryan Smith (June 7, 2010). "2010 MLB Draft Selections". FanGraphs. Fangraphs Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  7. Dave Perkin (August 17, 2009). "Taillon, Wolters Shine at Aflac". Baseball America. Baseball America Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  8. Jenifer Langosch (June 7, 2010). "Bucs draft high school arm Taillon at No. 2". MLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  9. "riceowls.com Baseball Announces Signing Class – Rice University Official Athletic Site Rice University Official Athletic Site – Baseball". riceowls.com.
  10. Chuck Finder (August 16, 2010). "Taillon's Dad: Son is Signed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  11. Jim Callis (August 17, 2010). "First round Action on the Final Day". BaseballAmerica.com. Baseball America. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  12. Rob Biertempfel (April 26, 2011). "Taillon: And so it begins". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  13. "Prospects pack rosters for 2012 All-Star Futures Game". Major League Baseball.
  14. Mike Passanisi (August 17, 2012). "Taillon Scheduled To Join Curve For Double-A Debut Tuesday".
  15. Bill Rosario (August 27, 2012). "Brentz and Taillon Win Weekly Awards".
  16. "Pirates' Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon among Top 100 Prospects". Pittsburgh Pirates.
  17. "2013 World Baseball Classic (Rosters)". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  18. "Pirates' top pitching prospect Taillon faces Tommy John surgery". TribLIVE.com.
  19. Nesbitt, Stephen J. (June 7, 2016). "Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon to debut Wednesday vs. Mets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  20. Perkins, Owen (June 9, 2016). "Pirates option Taillon after quality debut". MLB.com.
  21. Brink, Bill (June 14, 2016). "Pirates ace Cole headed to DL; Taillon expected to start against Mets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  22. "'Why me?': Jameson Taillon opens up on cancer as he returns to Pirates". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  23. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27312688/pirates-shut-taillon-forearm-season
  24. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30771229/sources-new-york-yankees-acquire-pitcher-jameson-taillon-pittsburgh-pirates-four-prospects
  25. Adler, David. "James Taillon has surgery for testicular cancer". MLB. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  26. "Taillon Set For First Rehab Start Since Cancer Surgery". CBS Pittsburgh. May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  27. Cwik, Chris (May 28, 2017). "Jameson Taillon makes first rehab start since cancer diagnosis". Yahoo! Big League Stew. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  28. "2010 Draft: Jameson Taillon, P". MLB.com. March 10, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  29. Langosch, Jenifer (June 7, 2010). "Bucs draft high school arm Taillon at No. 2". MLB.com. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  30. Laurila, David (September 17, 2012). "Q&A: Jameson Taillon, Future Pirates Ace". Fangraphs. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
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