MASNsports.com is your online home for the latest Orioles and Nationals news, features, and commentary. And now, you can connect with MASN on every digital level. From web and social media to our new mobile alert service, MASN has got all the bases covered.
Get the latest breaking news direct to your phone with our free mobile texting service. Text "MASN" to 29292, or click the join button below!
He is 6'6" and 225 pounds and throws a fastball that has touched 99 miles per hour. He fanned 19 this season during a seven-inning no-hitter. He struck out 16 Cuban batters over seven innings last summer at the Pan American Junior Championships.
He is just 18 years old. Oh yeah, and he could be the Orioles selection with the third pick in the First-Year Player Draft next Monday.
He is Jameson Taillon, a right-handed pitcher from the Woodlands High School in Texas.
Very few know the draft, especially its top players, better than Jim Callis of Baseball America. He feels the Pirates, picking right ahead of the Orioles, are unlikely to take a high school pitcher and that Taillon should be there when the O's pick comes up.
"I think everyone expects that (Bryce) Harper will go number one. Then I think the Orioles are just waiting to see what the Pirates do. The Pirates could go (Manny) Machado. They could go Taillon. They were interested in Drew Pomeranz earlier and he bounced back in the SEC tournament.
"The Orioles are sitting in a nice position where they could get Taillon or Machado. Either way they are going to get a very good player.
"I think there is a clear top three of Harper, Taillon and Machado. So the Orioles picked a good year to be picking three. Pomeranz is probably close to that group, but I think most think those are the top three guys. It's a great year to be picking three.
"The Pirates were on Pomeranz earlier. It's possible they take him and the Orioles have their pick between Machado and Taillon. I don't think the Pirates will take a high school pitcher," Callis said.
With the Orioles offense struggling and the O's minors stocked more with pitchers than hitters, I asked Callis if the O's should take a college hitter with the third pick, even if one is not projected to go that high.
"Not at all. If you are picking three and you're the leading contender to pick one the following year, you are there for a reason. It's not because you are popular. It's because your team stinks.
"You are not going to get any better by getting a guy to the big leagues quicker, you'll get better by getting the best player you can possibly get. Andy MacPhail has been around a long time and Joe Jordan is a good scouting director. I don't think they will fall prey to that. I don't see how you can pass on one of the high school kids for any of the college players in this draft."
Callis said it would be a reach for the Orioles to take a college hitter with the third pick.
"No, it's a bad year for college position guys. The best college bats are probably Zack Cox at Arkansas, Michael Choice from Texas-Arlington or Yasmani Grandal of Miami. Picking those guys at three would be a big stretch.
"Let's say you took the best college bat out there, which in my mind is Zack Cox of Arkansas. Realistically he is at least two years away from the big leagues. So it's not like he is going to ride in a horse tomorrow and lead the Orioles to the top of the AL East. In the AL East, you can't be making short-term solutions just to appease your fans."
Over the next day or so I'll publish more with Jim Callis of Baseball America.
In part two he provides his personal scouting report on Jameson Taillon
In part three he talks about O's drafting under scouting director Joe Jordan and the Orioles draft budgets.
Good post, thanks for the info. I just hope they take one of the two. I'm usually a little nervous taking a high school pitcher but I saw video of this kid a couple of different times and he looks legit.
Steve-
Blogs like these are awesome to read! Good work.. Can't wait until part 3!
Any idea if there Is a Bryce Harper in the 2011 draft since O's look like heavy favorites for it at the moment.
--------------------
All the projections like Anthony Rendon, third sacker at Rice, as the top pick in the 2011 draft. I can't see any way he is hyped like Harper is. - Steve.
its almost impossible to predict the MLB draft, even the top 3, but I'm guessing:
Harper
Pomerantz
Taillon
We'd have to be the dumbest team in the world to pass up on Taillon if hes around
Sudhir | June 2, 2010 1:47 PM | Reply
Any idea if there Is a Bryce Harper in the 2011 draft since O's look like heavy favorites for it at the moment.
--------------------
All the projections like Anthony Rendon, third sacker at Rice, as the top pick in the 2011 draft. I can't see any way he is hyped like Harper is. - Steve.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hopefully that means that Rendon won't come with the Boras-inflated signing bonus request. Maybe Harper/Boras will demand so much money that the Nationals will not sign him by the deadline and he'll go back into the draft for 2011 so we can get him.
So we're in first place in the race for the number 1 pick next year with a three game lead to boot. Something to root for?
Steve - Any indication which way the Orioles go if both Tailon and Machado are both there at 3? Did Mr Callis indicate which one he would prefer.?
----------------------------------
Just a guess, Taillon. - Steve.
Good interview/blog Steve. Really enjoy the minor league/draft stuff. I agree with everything Jim said
Any idea how Harper grades out compared to Wieters and why are people suddenly throwing Wieters out with the garbage? His Defense is among the best in the league, sure his power has yet to develop but that's true of all young hitters.
-----------------------------------
So much was expected of Wieters, then he tore it up in the minors. I think he is doing fine and expect to see more power the rest of this year. Don't know how they rate the two, probably Harper better on off and Wieters on def. - Steve.
who ever the pick I just wish they sign fairly quickly and get some playing time this year. Picking so high each year usually means playing the wait and see what the other guys get before I sign, and they just lose playing/instruction time.
---------------------------
Yes, and that is likely to happen this year. The third overall pick is probably not likely to sign much, if at all, before the August 15 deadline. - Steve.
Steve,
Rendon is suppose to be one of the best college hitters since Mark Teixeira came out. Jim Callis has said that he'd take Rendon over Harper if Rendon was eligible this year due to position scarcity and that he's further developed and closer to the bigs (so less risk) than Harper.
I enjoyed the column, keep up the good work.
You know, I know this goes against all baseball fandom, but I actually don't want the Orioles to do well this year so we can lock up drafting Rendon next year. The guy is a beast, and if we can grab Tallion this year, what a two year draft. I know I've said this before, but hey the draft is pretty much the best thing to look forward to this year, and judging on our performance this year next year as well since we could get some really big time players for the future. Have to get excited for that.
Good stuff Steve; any chance of posting Callis' report on Machado too? Thanks.
----------------------------
I think I talked to him more about Taillon but have more coming with him soon. - Steve.
Steve-
The bottom line, as I watch the O's is....
Weiter's, Bergeson, Matusz, Tillman, Markakis, Jones, Hernandez, Moore, etc. they are all like 23,24, 25,26.
The veterans they do have...are Ty Wiggington, Luke Scott, Guthrie, Lugo, Izzy. not exactly perennial allstars.
Tejeda, is the only legit veteran, and he is just too old now. Millwood I guess.
How could we have expected them to be competitive when you look at A-Rod, Jeter, Posada, etc. Most teams.
Its just so unrealistic. I am rethinking, that, to fire Trembley, before the end of the year, doesn't do anything except maybe boost fan morale a bit.
Its tough to get the kids to become confident big league stars, without protection, but thats just what they have to do. If they can't, then we are really in trouble.
Oh well.
Lots of informative stuff in there Steve. I look forward to reading the follow up articles as well.