Quite A First Impression: Taillon Nabs E.L. Pitcher of Week Award

PORTLAND, Maine - Altoona Curve RHP Jameson Taillon has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the Week of August 20-26, the league announced earlier this morning.  It is the first Double-A Pitcher of the Week award for Taillon and his third this season after garnering the honor twice as a member of the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. 

The 20-year-old righty made his Double-A debut on Tuesday in Trenton and was solid, tossing five innings of four-hit ball while striking out six and not allowing a run or a walk.  He followed it up on Sunday with an even more impressive performance in his home debut by blanking the Richmond Flying Squirrels over six innings and facing just one batter over the minimum. 

The Woodlands, Texas native was perfect through four innings before giving up an infield single in the fifth, which turned out to be the only hit he allowed in six innings of work.  All told, Taillon struck out seven batters on Sunday night and each of his last five outs was recorded by a strikeout.

For the week, Taillon combined to spin 11 scoreless innings while allowing a total of five hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks.  The stellar week comes on the heels of 23 starts in High-A Bradenton where he was 6-8 with a 3.82 ERA before being promoted to Double-A.  He was voted a Florida State League mid-season All-Star and also participated in the SiriusXM Futures Game in Kansas City this past July. 

Taillon was the second-overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and made his professional debut in 2011, spending the entire season with the West Virginia Power where he also earned mid-season All-Star accolades.  This season, Taillon entered the campaign ranked as the second-best prospect in the Pirates' system according to Baseball America. 

He was recently voted in the same publication's annual Best Tools Survey as having the "Best Breaking Pitch" and the "Best Pitching Prospect" in the Florida State League.  He is the third Curve player this season (second pitcher) to receive Player or Pitcher of the Week accolades, joining Adalberto Santos and Phil Irwin.  The duo won their awards in the same week for the week of July 23-29. 

Altoona continues its final 2012 homestand tonight with a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader versus the Akron Aeros (AA - Indians).  The openers with Akron will take on a hockey feel as Pittsburgh Penguins forward James Neal will be in the house, taking part in pregame festivities, firing the first puck, and signing autographs during the game thanks to S&T Bank, Altoona Trackers, Advanced Chiropractic, and WTAJ-TV. In keeping with the theme of the night, the Curve will sport special hockey sweater-styled jerseys for the second of the evening's two, seven-inning contests.

The powder blue, hockey-style tops will be auctioned off during both games with the proceeds benefitting the family of Denise Arpino. On this Mirror Monday, Curve fans can clip their final Mirror Monday discount coupon from the front page of the Altoona Mirror sports section to receive $2 off Grandstand tickets.

Curve RHP Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.25) is scheduled to start for the Curve tonight in Game 1 of the twinbill. For tickets and more information on the final Curve homestand of 2012, fans can call 877.99.CURVE, visit AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field.