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Jameson Taillon Shines In Rehab Start

By Marty Leap

May 3, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon looks to throw against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon looks to throw against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pirate rotation could be getting a huge boost from a returning pitcher and soon

On May 8th, Jameson Taillon announced that he had undergone surgery for testicular cancer. This came two days after he was placed on the disabled list with right groin discomfort. At this point, returning to baseball was the last thing on anyone’s mind.

Well, it took Taillon less than three weeks to return to baseball. On Sunday, he made a rehab start with the Double-A Altoona Curve. And in this start, Taillon was excellent.

In 3 innings of work for the Curve Jameson Taillon allowed 1 hit, he walked a batter, and he struck out 6. He did not allow a run and needed just 47 pitches to get through these 3 innings. With this start, Taillon is one step closer to returning to the Major League rotation.

Prior to going on the disabled list Jameson Taillon had made 6 starts. In these 6 starts he pitched 35 1/3 innings and was averaging 7.64 K/9, 3.31 BB/9, and 1.02 HR/9. He owned a 3.31 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 3.74 xFIP, and had accumulated an fWAR of 0.4 in the early season.

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Jameson Taillon is already one of the Pirates’ best starting pitchers, and he is viewed as a huge part of the future of the organization. The fact he was back pitching in professional games less than 3 weeks after having surgery for testicular cancer speaks volumes about Taillon not only as a competitor but, most of all, as a person.

Getting Jameson Taillon back in the starting rotation will be a huge boost for a Pittsburgh Pirates team that is currently just 3.5 games out of first place in the National League Central. After his rehab start on Sunday, it appears that Taillon’s return could be sooner rather than later.

One could guess that the next step for Taillon would be a rehab start for either Double-A or Triple-A where he looks to push his pitch count to 75 pitches. After that would be one more rehab start to get his pitch count over 100. Then, he should be back with the Pirates which is pretty incredible after the 3 week stretch he just had.

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