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SALISBURY, Md. - Low Single-A Hagerstown right-hander Taylor Jordan won't pitch in tonight's Strike Out Hunger South Atlantic League All-Star Game. He last pitched June 18, holding Delmarva to two earned runs in six innings to pick up his seventh victory of the season.
While that outing essentially reduced the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, a ninth-round draft pick of the Nationals in 2009, to a spectator tonight, he's definitely been soaking in all the atmosphere of his first All-Star selection.
"It's been a blast," said Jordan, who is 7-3 with a 2.86 ERA for the Suns.
Jordan participated in today's All-Star luncheon and South Atlantic League Hall of Fame inductions and has enjoyed spending time with his four Suns teammates that are part of the Northern Division roster. After meeting with the media, he was headed out to sign autographs as part of Fan Fest at Perdue Stadium before taking part in batting practice with his teammates.
Jordan said the key to his success in 2010 has been his ability to keep the ball down, something that escaped him last season, when he went 2-4 with a 5.37 ERA for short-season SIngle-A Vermont and Hagerstown. That wasn't the followup he expected after a 2-0 record in 10 games, including six starts, for the Gulf Coast League Nationals in 2009, his first season as a pro.
"It's all about keeping the ball down," he said.
Ironically, Jordan comes from Merritt Island, Fla., about 20 minutes from the Nationals' spring training home in Viera. But he wasn't aware of the Nationals' interest in him until he was drafted, despite participating in a workout for possible area draft picks at Space Coast Stadium.
Check back later for video of my interview with Jordan.
