Jameson Taillon, recovering from Tommy John surgery, continues progressing through his rehab work. The Pirates are taking things slow with the right-hander, keeping him on a schedule that sees him pitch on Tuesdays and Fridays only. In my last update, I noted that Taillon was at 25 pitches, and would be increasing that workload soon. Yesterday he threw a bullpen session that lasted 30-31 pitches. His normal full-length bullpen sessions go 35-40 pitches.
Taillon said the bullpen session yesterday was good. He will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday, and then depending on how he feels after that, he is hoping to face live hitters by the end of next week. As for the Tuesday/Friday schedule, he will remain on that plan the whole way through camp until he gets to the point where he can get into games. At that time, he will switch over to a normal five-day schedule.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
When did Matt Harvey have his TJS, in relation to when Taillon had his? Harvey had a very promising, but brief, return to the mound this week. Was hitting 98-99.
Dylan Bundy, OTOH, still struggling to get back to where he was pre TJS.
Harvey had his surgery late October of 2013, Taillon had his early April of 2014. So Harvey would be somewhere around 6 months ahead of where Taillon is. Harvey lost an entire year of playing.
Tim what is the usual five day schedule for a Pirate prospect like Taillon and does it differ from just an organizational guy?