Bucs: Taillon Pitches 2 Innings in Debut
PITTSBURGH — Jameson Taillon, the Pirates No. 1 selection in last year's draft, made his professional debut Wednesday night for the West Virginia Power, throwing 45 pitches in two innings of work.
Taillon struggled in the first inning, loading the bases on a leadoff single and two walks against Hagerstown, but was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam by forcing a ground ball for a 6-4-3 double play to end the first inning down, 1-0.
"It's good to get it out of the way," Taillon said of his debut. "I didn't throw as good as I was hoping, but I fought through some adversity with the weather and not really feeling my delivery the first inning, missing up. But I think we've got a good club and it's going to be fun."
Taillon had a much easier second inning and finished with three hits allowed and one earned run on 45 pitches. The game was eventually suspended because of rain.
"He probably had maybe one more hitter," Taillon's coach, Jeff Johnson, said. "I made sure the mound was OK, because I knew it was raining, and he said it was fine. I said, 'You've got to get over one pitch and get two outs,' and he did it."
Maybe the highlight of the evening was Taillon pitching against Washington No. 1 pick Bryce Harper in the first inning. Taillon walked Harper.
Thirty of Taillon's 45 pitches were for strikes and some radar guns reportedly clocked one of his fastballs at 100 mph, unofficially. Taillon did not record a strikeout.
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Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com
