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Jameson Taillon: It's Reassuring To See That I Really Do Belong

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – Jameson Taillon is the unexpected surprise everybody saw coming.

After being selected by the Pirates second overall in the 2011 MLB Draft, Taillon instantly became one of the hottest pitching prospects in baseball, leading Pirates fans and management to drool over his potential. But, his career was derailed by injury, and he became somewhat of an afterthought after missing the entire 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Now, Taillon has found his way back into the dreams of Pirates fans this month. He's posted a 1.65 ERA through three starts in Triple-A and is attracting the same sort of attention he did before his injury.

Taillon joined "The Fan Morning Show" on Tuesday to discuss his hot start to the season.

"Every start so far this year, I feel like I've made some pretty good improvements," Taillon said. "I'm recovering really well in between my starts, I'm able to work on things in my side [sessions], which for me has been a big plus, because the recovery between starts, I think, is what the Pirates were probably most concerned with."

"I had three pitches working Saturday, and I'm pretty pleased with how it went. But at the same time, even though the stat line looks pretty good, there's always something to work on…I don't want to just judge myself off of results in Triple-A. I'm getting to the point where I want to start judging my pitches and my work off of how it would do in Pittsburgh. So, definitely some stuff to clean up."

Taillon has relished the opportunity to show what he can do again after going two-and-a-half years without pitching in an official game.

"In baseball, [you] constantly get judged by your box score, and your results and your stats," Taillon said. "And for two years, I didn't have any numbers attached for my name…so to be able to come back and put up some good numbers, and realize that I do belong, and all the work I've done has made me better, it's really reassuring."

He's been a man on a mission, and judging by the results, it's been a successful one.

"I went in with more of a mission to make a statement, and prove that I'm back," Taillon said.

"The journey probably hasn't gone as I imagined it as a bright, raw, 18-year-old kid, but it's been my journey and my path," Taillon added. "And I'm definitely in a better place now than I could have been (in)."

The interview can be heard here:

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