Jameson Taillon Set For Rehab Start Number Three

Jameson Taillon is very close to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation

At 7:05 PM tonight the Indianapolis Indians will play the Toledo Mud Hens. In this game, Jameson Taillon will make a rehab start for the Indians. If all goes according to plan, this could be his final rehab start.

This will be the third rehab start for Jameson Taillon who is working his way back from being treated for testicular cancer. In his first two rehab starts (one for Double-A Altoona and one for Triple-A Indianapolis) he has allowed just 1 earned run in 8 innings pitched.

In these 8 innings of work, Taillon has not allowed a home run, just 4 hits, and he has struck out 12 hitters. Furthermore, he has issued just 1 walk. He threw 47 pitches in his first rehab start, and 68 in his second.

After his last start, Taillon told reporters that he felt he was both physically and mentally ready to return to the Pirate rotation. However, the Pirates want him to make another rehab start. But if all goes according to plan tonight, this should be the final one.

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Clint Hurdle said on Saturday that the plan is for Taillon to try and throw 90 pitches in tonight’s start. If this happens, it should be expected that his next start would be at the Major League level. Taillon also threw a 25 pitch bullpen session on Sunday with no issues.

It can not be stressed enough how incredible Taillon’s recovery has been. Less than a month after being treated for testicular cancer, he had already made a pair of minor league rehab starts.

Now, he is preparing for his third, and hopefully final, minor league rehab start before rejoining the Pirate rotation. There are no words to express the competitor Taillon is, as well as how mentally strong he is as a human being.

Prior to going on the disabled list, Jameson Taillon had made 6 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In these 6 starts he owned a 3.31 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and a 3.80 xFIP in 35 1/3 innings pitched. He was averaging 7.64 K/9, 3.31 BB/9, and 1.02 HR/9. He was generating ground balls at a 52.9 percent rate, and opposing hitters were batting .256 against him.