Jameson Taillon - RHP – Pittsburgh Pirates

Height: 6'6" Weight: 235 lbs. -- Hits: Right Throws: Right

2013 Stats (AA & AAA) – 5-10, 3.73 ERA, 147.1 Innings, 142 K's, 1.32 WHIP

 

Scouting Report 

Jameson Taillon is a big strapping kid with thunderous right arm. He features a fastball that can reach triple digits and rests comfortably at about 95 MPH throughout a ballgame. Despite the speed one of the biggest concerns of Taillon is that his fastball shows nice downward bite and trajectory at times and at other times arrives flat. This has to be due to mechanics which makes sense because of his height but the Pirates coaching staff, nor could I, point to a specific reason behind this. His curveball has a nice bend and disturbs a batters rhythm quite well. Taillon also features a changeup and hard slider but neither are of major league grade quite yet. Although he was a first round pick and has an excellent work ethic and demeanor, it has taken Taillon awhile to develop. He continues to give up more hits then you would like to see and also fell into a rut last season against left handed hitters (.256 BA, .343 OBP). This is where the changeup will come into play and needs to get better. Taillon also must control the running game better. He has allowed far too many stolen bases against him thanks to a long delivery. The Pirates coaches must refine his delivery in a way that repeatedly generates the downward bite of his fastball and also that is efficient to the plate to keep runners off-balance.

 

2014 Analysis

The Pirates have an awful lot of pitching talent both on the major league squad and down on the farm. Players like Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow and Nick Kingham along with the emergence of Jeff Locke and signing of Edinson Volquez make it highly doubtful that Taillon begins the season in Pittsburgh. He still has enough to work out in the minor leagues before the Pirates count on him as part of their rotation going forward. Chances are that he will be called upon during the season to make a start or two but it’s unlikely they will need him in 2014. It is much more likely however that Taillon is used as trade bait this summer assuming the Pirates are in contention. Younger players like Tyler Glasnow and Nick Kingham have developed quicker and could be ready very soon making Taillon expendable. He will need to refine his mechanics at triple-A Indianapolis this year and develop an offering that will keep left handed hitters off base.

 

Compare To

Homer Bailey – Similar build and background. Bailey also took much longer to develop than the Reds would have liked.

Jake Arrieta – Another guy with similar body that always lost command of his stuff. We are still waiting for Arrieta to put it all together one of these days.

 

Current ADP

Currently Ranked as the 137th Starting Pitcher In The Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide

ADP of 394.49 Overall in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) 

 

Searching for answer for the 2014 fantasy baseball season? Turn to a trusted source to enlighten you – Fantasy Alarm – and pick up your very own copy of the 2014 Fantasy Alarm Baseball Draft Guide. After reading the 200 pages of information you will be ready to dominate the competition in the coming season on your way to a fantasy baseball championship.