The Pirates Prospects 2015 Prospect Guide is now on sale. The book features prospect reports on everyone in the system, the 2015 top 50 prospects, and the most comprehensive coverage of the Pirates’ farm system that you can find. While the top 50 prospects are exclusive to the book, we will be releasing the top 20 prospects over the next few weeks. Be sure to purchase your copy of the book on the products page of the site.
To recap the countdown so far:
20. Luis Heredia, RHP
19. JaCoby Jones, SS
18. Willy Garcia, OF
17. Clay Holmes, RHP
16. Gage Hinsz, RHP
15. Trey Supak, RHP
14. Cody Dickson, LHP
13. John Holdzkom, RHP
12. Adrian Sampson, RHP
11. Harold Ramirez, OF
10. Elias Diaz, C
9. Cole Tucker, SS
8. Mitch Keller, RHP
7. Alen Hanson, 2B
6. Nick Kingham, RHP
5. Reese McGuire, C
4. Josh Bell, 1B
3. Austin Meadows, OF
We continue the countdown with the number 2 prospect, Jameson Taillon.
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP
Jameson Taillon was expected to make the jump to the majors in 2014, similar to what Gerrit Cole did in 2013. However, he had Tommy John surgery at the start of April. He spent the 2014 season rehabbing from the surgery, and started throwing again at the end of July.
Prior to the injury, Taillon had outstanding stuff, with a 94-97 MPH fastball that can hit triple digits and usually tops out at 99 MPH. He pairs that with a plus curveball, which is more of a slurve, thrown in the low-to-mid 80s with hard tilt. Taillon has also been working on developing his changeup the last few years, and made some progress with the pitch in Altoona during the 2013 season.
There were things that Taillon needed to work on in 2014 before he could jump to the majors. The big thing he has been working on throughout his pro career has been reducing the drop in his delivery. Taillon throws with a drop and drive delivery, which leads to him flattening out his fastball up in the zone, making him more hittable than a guy with his stuff should be. He has made progress reducing that drop, but it’s always going to be a part of his delivery, and always something he needs to focus on.
Taillon also needed to continue working on his changeup, while working to incorporate a two-seam fastball into the mix, which he started throwing when he reached Double-A. He should also continue focusing on learning how to mix his pitches up and focus on being a pitcher, rather than a thrower.
Most pitchers return from Tommy John with the same stuff that they had prior to the injury. That is the hope with Taillon. He will go to Triple-A at the start of the year, and could be an option for the Pirates at mid-season. He might be limited as far as innings, which could lead to an early shut-down in September. (UPDATE: It looks like the Pirates will start him later in the year, so that he will have innings remaining in September). Long-term, he looks like a solid number two starter who could pair nicely with Cole and Glasnow.
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