A second opinion confirmed additional bad news for Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Jameson Taillon.
The Pirates revealed in a press release that Taillon has an inguinal hernia and will have surgery late next week with his expected return being approximately two months.
Taillon’s injury comes after multiple outings spent in extended spring training that had reportedly been successful and without issue.
“If things go as expected there should be an opportunity for him to pick up some innings this summer,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “He’s frustrated but driven. He’s as hungry as ever.
The Pirates had been cautiously moving Taillon along in his recovery however this setback will again delay his timetable for a full return.
The right-handed pitcher was ranked as the team’s second best prospect by Baseball America. Baseball America also named Taillon as having the best curveball in the Pirates minor league system.
Taillon missed the 2014 season with Tommy John surgery. Prior to the injury he was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and pitched 2.2 innings allowing three runs [one earned].
He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft and among his early accolades is pitching for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and being named to the 2012 All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City.
This setback in addition to the trade of Clayton Richard earlier Friday evening to the Chicago Cubs hurts a Pirates team that has suffered some steps backwards throughout the season.
