The Pirates will promote highly-regarded pitching prospect Jameson Taillon for his major league debut tomorrow, per a team announcement. He’ll square off against the defending NL-champion Mets in his first taste of the bigs.
Taillon, the second overall pick of the 2010 draft, moved steadily up the ranks in the Bucs’ farm before he was derailed by injuries. First came a lengthy absence for Tommy John surgery, then a hernia. The hope had been that he’d be available this time last year, but the Pirates may yet be rewarded for their patience.
Though he last appeared professionally in 2013, the 24-year-old righty has returned with a vengeance in 2016. Over 61 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level, Taillon carries a 2.04 ERA. He has allowed just 44 base hits and is walking less than a batter per nine while recording a sturdy 8.9 K/9 strikeout rate.
Taillon discussed his remarkable return just yesterday in an interview with SB Nation and MLBTR scribe Charlie Wilmoth. He says he matured his approach, got stronger, and refined his mechanics even while recovering from his injuries.
Of course, the move also comes at a point where Taillon is unlikely to qualify for Super Two status. Even if he’s able to stick in the majors the rest of the way the top prospect could only accumulate 118 days of service.
As Taillon tells Wilmoth, the Super Two matter isn’t one that concerns him. “As far as the Super Two rule goes,” he said, “I’d hate for that to be a reason to keep someone down if they’re 100 percent ready, but I felt like I actually had something to work on, so that kind of cancels it out for me.”
It remains to be seen not only whether Taillon can perform, but also what kind of role he might play the rest of the way. His long layoff raises the specter of an innings limit; while he has worked to over 140 frames in two prior seasons, he missed two full campaigns in the interim.
Manager Clint Hurdle did note that the long layoff gives Taillon “a full gas tank” to work with, though he also suggested that a permanent rotation spot is no sure thing. Per the skipper, factors both in and out of Taillon’s control will determine the team’s course moving forward. (Reporting via Rob Biertempfel & Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Twitter links, and Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, via Twitter.)
Even if Taillon doesn’t hold down a starting job for all of 2016, he — and similarly hyped youngster Tyler Glasnow — could have a major impact on the Pirates’ fate this year. As I explained in listing those two among twenty prospects whose promotions could alter the trade deadline, both could have an impact as starters and/or relievers, deepening the staff and shifting the club’s role in the market this summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Who’s he replacing?
Has to be NIcasio I would think.
Nicasio is to start game 2 tonight. I would imagine that if he stays up Nicasio will go to the pen unless Liriano go onto the DL. He was supposed to pitch today before the rain out last night and was supposed to pitch tomorrow. Francisco has not been lighting up the mound the last few starts.
The call up was necessitated by the rainout last night making today a doubleheader. Bucs would have had both Niese and Nicasio on four days rest this Saturday, so Taillon is taking Liriano’s start tomorrow and Frankie will go on extra rest, with a bullpen session at some point I’m guessing, on Saturday.
‘Bout time
It’s about freaking time!!!
I really hope he does well, and the Pirates keep him in the starting rotation as the season goes on.
Move Nicasio to the pen, and keep working the phones and try to secure another dependable relief pitcher, prefer a lefty to soften the blow burning up Watson’s arm.
It’s not too late to make a run, but if the division is going to be handed to the Cub’s, then solidify the wild card (again) and roll the dice.
This is a good team, but the pitching has been a train wreck.
But there is help on the way(Glasnow and Kuhl) should be the next to arrive).
I wouldn’t count out a contribution from Josh Bell before the book is closed on the seaon.
Let’s go Buc’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forgot about Bell. Wow. Their farm system is loaded.
Pirates and Cubs are going to be going toe-to-toe for a long, long time. Will be great to watch, especially if the Cardinals stay with them. The NLC is definitely taking both Wild Cards for the foreseeable future, that’s for sure.
I think the Pirates will have the edge. Their whole system is loaded from low levels to AAA. Add in they don’t overpay or make stupid trades… their GM knows what he is doing. Not sure Theo could get those results without big money to throw around.
Lol. Can you name a good trade Huntington made from when he took over in 2007-2011? He made a good deal to acquire russel martin, cervelli, and melancon. Other than those guys he hasn’t hit on any of his deals. They were miserable for a long time, got good draft picks, hit on ifa signings (polonco and kang, marte was actually the previous g.m.) and Ray searage turned around vet pitchers.
Neals first trade, Torres (sp?) for two good prospects. sure the prospects failed but was a good trade… average Relief pitcher for two good prospects?
the next season he traded Nady and someone else for Jeff Karstens Jose Tabata Daniel McCutchen and someone else ( don’t remember ) Kastens was pretty decent for us for a while and Tabata was almost a regular until he got injured and personal life fell apart. Tabata’s contract was border line stupid though. Nady trade came at just the right time apparently because he fell apart and hasn’t done much sense.
Then he traded Bay which brought back 4 players in Morris, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Moss and.. someone else. Would’ve been a great deal if Moss would’ve broke out here in pittsburgh instead of oakland.. Bay had one more good season.
Then he traded Joey Bats for.. uh.. Diaz i think? IMO this is why we stuck with Pedro so long. Neal didn’t want Pedro breaking out and becoming a superstar until he got his fair shake. but that is just a guess. Jose didnt’ do much in pittsburgh, don’t think Diaz lasted long either.
McLouth for Morton, Locke and Gorkys was a steal.
…
I guess mclouth was but even then those are really just depth starters. They wouldn’t be top 5 in a lot of rotations. The rest weren’t good, you can’t give a trade credit when they let a guy go for nothing later then he develops. Its like giving the Orioles credit for arrieta. They have drafted and developed well, couple good ifa signings, few decent pillow contract signings, but in terms of trades Huntington has been below average. He doesnt have a rizzo, russell, arrieta type deal. Cutch, glasnow, alvarez, tailion, meadows, cole, Tony watson, mercer, josh bell were all draft picks. Hansen, marte, polonco, and kang were I.f.a signings. So now that the team Will get worse picks because they are better I worry they won’t acquire talent like they have.
All GM’s make deals that look great and others that look really bad. Overall I think NH has done a great job of building the core of the team through the draft and international free agents and using trades to supplement those cornerstone players. Josh Harrison, Francisco Cervelli, and Mark Melancon were all acquired by trade and have been productive for multiple seasons and Jon Niese has the potential to add to that group if his options are both picked up and he pitches well. Also, Marlon Byrd, JA Happ and Joakim Soria worked out as deadline trades.
The Pirates’ GM made a lot of good trades and some bad ones. He inherited a team with almost no talent and a farm system that had none at all. He started with nothing and has the Pirates now as a perennial contender. Mark Melancon was acquired as a trade chip and is the top closer in baseball over the past few seasons. Francisco Cervelli was acquired (stolen!) from the Yankees and is a total stud, as good as any catcher in the pros. Their GM has done a great job and hasn’t given up any major prospects in doing so. His biggest error was trading Bautista but he was a bum in Pittsburgh and before that for the Rays, Orioles and Royals. The Pirates GM doesn’t have never ending dollars to play with like Theo does. If he did, I am convinced he would do a much better job than Theo. In fact, if Theo and Neil Huntington switched jobs and Theo was in control of the Pirates I do not think they would be a contender, whereas the Cubs would likely be much better than they are now.
also remember the McClouth deal allowed Cutch to get to the MLB.
Getting Blanton and Soria last year where pretty good trades but ended up just being rentals.
Presley for Morneau was a good move too… just didn’t work out the way we hoped.
Snider for Brault and Tarply may end up being the deal of the decade if just one of them pan out. Considering Snider was a pirate again later in the season with out giving anything up… but at the time i thought it was horrible cause Snider was a pretty good 4th OF.
Yeah Neal doesn’t currently have a blockbuster deals that gave us an Arrieta type.. but he did also bring in AJ Burnett who was a big reason the team turned around.. and all it took was Exicardo Cayones and Diego Moreno… hell Neal even got the yankees to pay a good portion of his salary.
I’m not TOO worried for the near term not getting picks. When players like Cutch are nearing the end of their contract they will either get traded to refill the farm OR get QO’ed and sign else where and give us a comp pick.
Nicasio is doing fine as a starter, relax. Liriani on the other hand not so much.
Nicasio starts tonight and Liriano was supposed to go tomorrow but maybe the DL? Was pitching ok a few starts ago but ugly since. Wondering if he has been hurt….
Nicasio doing fine as a starter? i think not. Hard enough to get 5 innings out of him let alone 6. He might end up being pretty good at some point in the year but he is not doing well now. But yeah Liriano needs to figure out whats wrong soon.
Of course i say that and Nicasio will pitch a no-hitter tonight lol
One dares to dream! Everyone had Locke released when Taillon came up…….not so much now.. Wouild be great If Niese and Nicasio both somehow shut down da Mets……….No I am not holding my breath……
Well………….Neither made you forget about Cy Young but both did very well against the Mets. Go figure.
I will be watching this game
If he performs anywhere near expected, this will be a huge boost for the Pirates. If the last few years are any indication, they will only get stronger as the year goes on. There’s real reason to believe they (or the Cards) can catch and pass up the Cubs. The Cubs have been great so far but it’s pretty u likely they can maintain this level of play. Plus, they’re the Cubs so expect a major crash
I think you’re thinking of your daddy’s Cubs. Cubs went 23-9 in Sept/Oct last year to close out the season, ending on an 8 game winning streak the last week+ of the season…… almost catching the Pirates for home field in the wild card game. Cubs went 50-25 after the AS game last year after a 47-40 first half. The days of fading down the stretch are over. Even in 2014 the Cubs were 40-54 pre-AS game. Second half they went 33-35. Still crap but much better the second half….. a second half which included a 7 game losing streak and still finished almost .500. .426 W% first half in 2014, .485 W% second half. All because of 1 epic collapse in september 1969 by the Cubs they have the myth around them they always choke in september. If it takes one september really to mark the Cubs as chokers in September, then I guess Pirates are primed for another let down this year in the wild card game. It’s looking like catching the Cubs will be quite the feat as of right now, so the Wild Card is looking like their fate. What will this be? The 3rd straight time losing the wild card game? Not only losing but being shut out.
Last year, they were not looked at as world beaters ending the year but yet they did. Not saying they will fall apart but it is different when you are expected to be strong. Time will tell. As the old adage goes, that is why they play the games. .
And the Pirates will choke in the Playoffs, as usual. Fun how that works, huh.
Because the Cubs wouldn’t know anything about choking. Oh wait…. giving up 8 runs after an outfielder misses a ball because of a fan isn’t considered “choking” anymore?
The Cubs choke more than any team in baseball history. Their history is such a joke they should move to Cleveland so they fit in with the teams there.
I’d love to hear these “real reasons” to believe that the pirates or cardinals can catch up to the cubs.
This is why White Sox fans dislike Cub fans. Cubs have never won anything…ANYTHING. But their fans talk a big game. Then management puts an encasement around some random home run by Schwarber in playoffs. WTF did that homer have to do with anything? Hit a granny like Konerko in WS, then you can talk smack. Ideally Cubs win most games in regular season this year, then get swept again in playoffs by anyone of Nats., Giants or Mets….all of whom have better SP than the Cubs do.
I’m not sure what your rabbling tangent about past playoff performances have to do with the cards or pirates catching up to the cubs in the 2016 regular season,
And sorry to hear that white sox fans dislike cubs fans. Maybe they should worry more about actually showing up at the cell and less about the cubs. Or how that front office plans to turn that roster into a legitimate contender anytime soon.
You say better starting pitching, but then I look at the stats and see the cubs have allowed the fewest runs in baseball…. What should I believe?
You should believe that season is only 1/3rd old and that its more than likely Arrieta, Lackey, Hammel and Hendricks starts to date are unsustainable over course of full season.
Great story if he can come back from all the injuries and be an all-star player, unlike Dylan Bundy, who’s pretty bad right now.
Lets give Bundy more than 25 innings pitching out of the bullpen something he has only done at the MLB level before we judge him. I suppose you think Urias is bad too. Lets also let this guy pitch a single inning in MLB before we start talking about all star appearances.
The ERA isn’t really the alarming thing for me about Bundy. His 1.81 WHIP though is pretty shockingly bad.
Bundy is gonna be the next Arrieta. The O’s will give up on him and some pitching coach will let him be himself and will flourish.
Noooooo……… This is horrible news….. for me….. a Cub fan.
I think the opposite. Seems they might stretch him out the whole year, if so I’d lay 2:1 odds he ends up needing tommy John before June of next year.
Man I know they gotta do it for the long haul but Cole, Taillon, Glasnow, Lariano, & Kuhl def give the Mets young guys a run for their money.
These stud SP make me wish Atlanta goes pitching this draft. Leave the offense for the IFA.
That may be next year’s rotation but do not count on Glasnow till he can confidently throw an offspeed pitch consistently. Kuhl maybe this year. Worried there may be a health issue for Liriano. He has looked ugly the last few starts.
3/5 of those pitchers have yet to throw a pitch in MLB and Liriano looks broken right now. Perhaps you should pump the breaks.on them definitely giving the mets a run at anything.
Do you even know what I am talking about when I say give them a run for the money genius. A run for their money for the hype around them. I live in the NY area and that’s all you heard about the young arms before any of them throwing their 1st pitch. And now its happening all over again with the Pirates arms. I can see where my statement was vague but damn some guys on here just lookin for a reason to jump on somebody. Relax we all know you know everything.
No, your statement declared them studs and said they have to show it over the long haul. Clearly you weren’t talking about hype.
Clearly Mr. Know it all number 1 feels the need to chime in now. Glad you can clarify for everybody what I meant. The world is a better place knowing Theo2016 is on mlbtraderumors providing clarity to all.
Two days ago they said he wouldn’t soon be called up. This has the makings of a spot start to give Niese a full 5 days to get over the today’s double header.
Great to see prospects getting the call. Good luck to Taillon, all the best.
Glasnow for Moncada, who says no?
Red Sox. Pretty easy.
I think the Pirates say no just as quickly