Jameson Taillon

BIOGRAPHY

Jameson Taillon was born November 18, 1991, in Lakeland, Florida. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Taillon attended The Woodlands High School in Texas. He caught the attention of scouts with a 22–6 win-loss record in his high school career. He was 8–1 his senior year and threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter against rival Conroe High School on March 23, 2010.

Prior to the 2010 MLB draft, Fangraphs called Taillon the best high school pitching prospect since Josh Beckett. Baseball America compared him to pitchers like Stephen Strasburg. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Taillon with the second overall selection of the draft. He had signed a National Letter of Intent with Rice University in November 2009 posing a challenge to the Pirates in their effort to sign him. However, hours before the signing deadline, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Taillon had indeed signed with the Pirates. Baseball America's Jim Callis reported that Taillon's deal included a $6.5 million signing bonus, the second-highest in draft history.

Facing off against fellow 2010 first-rounder Noah Syndergaard in his debut, Taillon threw 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts, not receiving a decision in the eventual 6–5 loss. After the game, Taillon was optioned back to Triple-A, but not without receiving compliments from his manager Clint Hurdle on his effort, saying "This kid's poured into everything he's done. It's been a great fight back." On June 14, Taillon made his second start, also against the Mets, throwing 8 scoreless innings, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh before it was broken up by Curtis Granderson, and recording his first win in the 4–0 victory. He spent the remainder of 2016 with Pittsburgh. In 18 starts he compiled a 5–4 record and 3.38 ERA.

In 2018, Taillon spent the entire season on the roster without being injured, pitching to a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. He was 14–10 in 191 innings.

On January 24, 2021, the Pirates traded Taillon to the New York Yankees for prospects Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, Maikol Escotto, and Canaan Smith. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month in July, posting a 1.16 ERA. He finished the 2021 season with an 8–6 record in 29 starts with a 4.30 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 144+1⁄3 innings. On June 2, 2022, Taillon pitched 7 perfect innings in game 2 of a doubleheader vs the Los Angeles Angels. This bid would eventually be ended by a Jared Walsh double in the 8th Inning.

Tailon signed a 4 year deal with the Chicago Cubs following the 2022 season.