While Taillon may never measure up to Bryce Harper’s standards — few will — the right-hander will finally get the chance to realize his big-league dream this week.
The Pirates announced Tuesday that Taillon will start Wednesday night against the Mets, finally making his major-league debut on the heels of two seasons wiped out by an elbow injury.
“Used to practice my autograph all day in middle school, and I would dream of making the call to my family and friends,” Taillon tweeted Tuesday afternoon, adding: “Crazy to think of how many people worked so hard with me and helped me on this journey! But, this journey is still just beginning!”
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Now 24, Taillon’s call to the majors came six years to the day after the Pirates selected him No. 2 overall, just after the Nationals took Harper and right before the Orioles picked Manny Machado. Taillon had every reason to believe he, rather than fellow 2010 first-rounders Matt Harvey (No. 7 overall) or Chris Sale (No. 13), would be the pitching star of the draft.
He signed for a then-franchise-record $6.5 million and progressed steadily through Pittsburgh’s farm system before blowing out his elbow during spring training in 2014. He underwent Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch in a game again until joining Triple-A Indianapolis this year, but he has been back to his old form and then some, going 4-2 with a 2.04 ERA while walking just six and striking out 61 in 61 2/3 innings.
“It’s been a good track for him once he was able to get up and start throwing again,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Tuesday, via the Post-Gazette. “There may be a hidden lining in this that he didn’t pitch for a period of time. He’s got a full gas tank.”
