Taillon expected to rejoin rotation next week

Jameson Taillon is expected to return to the Pirates' starting rotation a little over a month after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer.

Taillon threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday afternoon, and felt "good" after his latest rehab start at Triple-A Indianapolis. Enough so that Clint Hurdle told reporters Taillon is expected to rejoin the rotation sometime early next week.



"We've met with Jameson," Hurdle said. "He's going to throw a bullpen today and I think we'll have more information based on the bullpen (session), how he feels tomorrow, but he'll be good to plug back into the rotation sometime early next week."

Taillon had surgery May 8 at Allegheny General Hospital — two days after being placed on the 10-day disabled list with groin discomfort. He has since made three rehab starts, and the latest included his usual workload.

The right-hander threw 97 pitches, including 67 for strikes, and allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings for Indianapolis Wednesday night in Toledo. He now has a 3.21 ERA in three rehab starts between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.

"I feel like I’m ready," Taillon told DKPittsburghSports.com Friday afternoon at PNC Park. "But I do know there is a difference between me being ready and the team being ready for me or what they think is best."

He went through his usual workout Thursday night in Toledo, playing catch and doing his usual sprint work, and was physically ready to throw again Friday. Blood tests are also administered on a regular basis, but all signs are positive in his recovery.

Hurdle received thorough scouting reports from Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett and pitching coach Stan Kyles, laying out what he needs to improve wherever and whenever he pitches next.

Hurdle has yet to decide which pitcher will be the odd man out in the rotation once Taillon does return. Tyler Glasnow, who is starting Friday against the Marlins, is 2-5 with a 6.97 ERA. Chad Kuhl showed signs of progress in his last start Wednesday, but has a 5.63 ERA and is struggling to locate his sinker low in the strike zone.

Trevor Williams, who moved from the bullpen to the rotation when Taillon was placed on the disabled list, has been one of the Pirates' best starters over the past two weeks. He has allowed two runs over his last 13 innings, and has a 1.20 WHIP in 31 2/3 innings as a starter.

Hurdle said the Pirates have had "internal conversations" over the past 10 days regarding which starter will get demoted, and added those continued Friday afternoon with general manager Neal Huntington, but moving one of them to the bullpen is not an option. The Pirates want whichever starter does not stay in the rotation to start in Triple-A Indianapolis, and it appears they are looking to make a decision sooner rather than later in anticipation of Taillon's return.

"What we try to do is look at the volume of work, what they've done well, where their areas of improvement need to be, who is best served staying here and who is best served at going back and still continuing to start to give us a good depth option there," Hurdle said.

If he returns and the Pirates demote one of their starting pitchers, they could choose to bring Johnny Barbato back from Triple-A Indianapolis after he was demoted Thursday afternoon. They could also turn to Josh Lindblom or Antonio Bastardo, who has made four rehab appearances for Indianapolis.

Bastardo has allowed one run on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. Lindblom was shelled for four runs in one inning last Wednesday and has not pitched since last Saturday.

Starting pitchers Steven Brault and Drew Hutchison are also in Indianapolis, but it's unlikely they would be recalled to fill a spot in the bullpen.

Taillon was 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in six starts with the Pirates this season. The 25-year-old started 18 games in 2016, finishing with a 5-4 record. Prior to that, though, the former No. 2 overall draft pick had a difficult time getting on the pitching mound.

He missed the 2014 season following Tommy John surgery and then missed all of 2015 with lingering effects of that surgery. He then underwent surgery for a sports hernia, and finally reached the major leagues last June, finishing with a 5-4 record, a 3.38 ERA and 85 strikeouts against 17 walks in 104 innings.

Even Taillon is surprised by his quick recovery. He thought his season would be over, and it was not even in the front of his mind. Now, he's preparing to return to face major league hitters.

"You get emotionally attached to an idea in your head of when you should be back or when you can come back," Taillon said. "Sometimes the level heads prevail and know what’s best. We’ll see, but this last step is really encouraging."