Jameson Taillon On Dealing With Expectations, Likely Starting Season In AAA
BRADENTON (93-7 The Fan) – Pirates top pitching prospect Jameson Taillon sat down with "The Fan Morning Show" at Spring Training to tell the guys about his offseason and about what comes next in his promising career.
Here is some of what he had to say:
On the lofty expectations that people have of him:
"It's been a big topic of conversation this spring, coming from fans at the field and stuff. They all pass that message along, that they're expecting big things. I think one of the benefits of going through the draft process like I did and getting picked pretty high is I've had eyes on me for a long time, and I don't mean it to come off bad, but I'm used to people kind of expecting things and I've kind of learned how to deal with it internally, and how to set my own goals and attack those."
On the large group of young pitchers and pitching prospect that the Pirates have amassed:
"The Pirates like to draft big guys. If you even go down to Pirate City and see all the young guys we have walking around there, they make me feel pretty average."
On it being unlikely that he starts the season in the majors:
"I kind of have a tough time with it because, while I'm in camp, I don't want to think about getting sent down, by any means. When I'm here, I feel like I'm here, and as long as they keep me here I think I have a shot, at least in my head. But I'm also realistic and they've communicated with me a couple plans that, it's not set in stone, but there are some guys that are ahead of me on the chart and stuff, and I'm aware of that. But while I'm here, I'm going to compete and see what I can do."
On the possibility of being a "super two" player if the Pirates were to send him down to start the season, and what he can work on if they do:
"I don't even know what all that stuff means, to be completely honest. I hear it, and I really don't honestly quite know what it means. But I do have some things I still need to iron out. I am getting better, but you always hear guys talk about controlling the running game. Once they find out they can run on you up there, they are going to exploit it. So, I need to hammer that down. I need to hammer down my changeup a little better. So, I don't know when the time will be right, but there are some things I can still get better at."
On becoming more than a power pitcher:
"In high school, there's no doubt I overthrew. I mean, I threw hard, but I think when I was in high school, I wasn't as trusting as my delivery, my mechanics, my body- I had hundreds of scouts at a game when I was 17, so I was trying to light up the radar gun. And when I got into pro ball, I realized, one, that doesn't work, and two, when you throw every day and get on a professional program, the velocity is just going to be there."
On pitching prospect Nick Kingham:
"He's nasty. He's got really good stuff, and he's just got this attitude that it doesn't matter who he's pitching against or where he's pitching. He's pretty care-free, and he just goes out there and shoves."
The interview can be heard here:
Jameson Taillon FMS 3-4
The Fan Morning Show will be broadcasting live from Pirates spring training in Bradenton every day this week. Listen to them live 5:40-10 a.m. and visit 937thefan.com to get interview summaries and audio after the show.
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