Taillon still following Cole’s path
Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon have seemingly been conjoined twins for nearly three years.
Ever since the Pirates selected Cole was the first overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft, everyone – the team, fans, media and prospect mavens — have expected him and Taillon — the second overall selection in 2010 — to form a dynamic duo atop the Pirates’ starting rotation.
Cole made it to the major leagues last season and shined in his rookie year, going 10-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 19 starts then giving up just three runs in 11 innings in two starts in the National League Division Series against St. Louis Cardinals.
Now Taillon, a year younger than Cole at 22, yearns to join his friend in the major leagues. It is likely to happen later this season after spending some more time honing his game at Class AAA Indianapolis, where he went 1-3 with a 3.89 ERA in six late-season starts last year after being promoted from Class AA Altoona.
“I watched at least parts of every start Gerrit made and it was really cool,” Taillon said. “He’s the first guy I ever really knew on a personal level who made it to the major leagues. It makes me want to be up there with him.”
Taillon is ranked as the Pirates’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America behind outfielder Gregory Polanco and is in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. Yet he has a miniscule chance of making the team.
The Pirates want Taillon to return to Indianapolis to work on his changeup. They feel he needs a third effective pitch to go with his blazing fastball and big-breaking curveball.
“I’m working on it all the time and the only way you can get better is by throwing it,” Taillon said of the change. “I throw it in games, I throw it when I’m warming up, I throw it in my bullpens between starts and I throw it when I’m playing catch.”
He wants to throw it at PNC Park sometime this season.
“Things are different when you get to Triple-A,” Taillon said. “Guys are going up and down from the major-league club. You realize how close you are to reaching your goal and, if you work hard, it can happen.”