Jameson Taillon

Jameson Taillon
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. --
Pitcher
Born: November 18, 1991 (1991-11-18) (age 20)
Winter Haven, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Jameson Taillon (born November 18, 1991 in Winter Haven, Florida) is a Canadian American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization of Major League Baseball. He attended The Woodlands High School in Texas. Taillon was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the second overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.[1][2]

Taillon stands at 6'7" and has a fastball that has hit 99 miles per hour (MPH) as well as a "plus" curveball according to MLB.com.[3] He caught the attention of Pirates scouts with a 22–6 high school career record. 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] Fangraphs called Taillon the best high school pitching prospect since Josh Beckett.[6] Baseball America compared him to pitchers like Stephen Strasburg.[7] 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."

As he was born in Florida and his parents were born in Canada, Taillon is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and the highest draft pick ever taken from that nation.

Professional career

Taillon signed a National Letter of Intent with Rice University in November 2009 that posed 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 2nd highest in draft history.[11]

Taillon will make his professional debut on April 27, 2011 with the Pirates' low-A affiliate, the West Virginia Power. He joined the team on April 24 after staying in Florida for an extended spring training assignment. He is set to debut against the Hagerstown Suns (affiliates of the Washington Nationals) and Bryce Harper, the only player to be picked ahead of him in the 2010 draft.[12]

References

  1. ^ Kevin Goldstein (June 4, 2010). "Future Shock: Mock Draft 2010". Baseball Prospectus. Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, LLC. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11070. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  2. ^ Jonathan Mayo (May 26, 2010). "Crystal Ball: The Draft's top 20 picks". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100526&content_id=10448720. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  3. ^ "2010 Draft: Jameson Taillon, P". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 10, 2010. http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?topic_id=8080130&content_id=7189153. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  4. ^ "Pirates select Jameson Taillon in first round of Draft". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. June 7, 2010. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10915708&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  5. ^ Sam Kahn, Jr. (April 20, 2010). "The Woodlands pitcher Taillon wowing major league scouts". The Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6966241.html. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  6. ^ Bryan Smith (June 7, 2010). "2010 MLB Draft Selections". FanGraphs. Fangraphs Inc. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/2010-mlb-draft-selections/. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  7. ^ Dave Perkin (August 17, 2009). "Taillon, Wolters Shine At Aflac". Baseball America. Baseball America Inc. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/aflac-all-american-classic/2009/268715.html. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  8. ^ Jenifer Langosch (June 7, 2010). "Bucs draft high school arm Taillon at No. 2". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10913622&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved June 18, 2010. 
  9. ^ Rice Owls website
  10. ^ Chuck Finder (August 16, 2010). "Taillon's Dad: Son is Signed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports-town/pbc-blog/104344-taillons-dad-son-is-signed. Retrieved August 16, 2010. 
  11. ^ Jim Callis (August 17, 2010). "First Round Action on the Final Day". BaseballAmerica.com. Baseball America. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2892. Retrieved August 17, 2010. 
  12. ^ Rob Biertempfel (April 26, 2011). "Taillon: And so it begins". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://blog.triblive.com/bucco-blog/2011/04/25/taillon-and-so-it-begins/. Retrieved April 26, 2011. 

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