Curtis Taylor
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1995-07-25) July 25, 1995
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Curtis W. Taylor (born July 25, 1995) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

Career

Taylor played youth baseball for the Coquitlam Reds of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League.[1] He attended the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he played college baseball for the UBC Thunderbirds.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the fourth round, with the 119th overall selection, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[2][3] Taylor made his professional debut with the Low-A Hillsboro Hops, making 17 appearances and posting a 2.20 ERA. Taylor played for the Single-A Kane County Cougars in 2017, starting 13 games and registering a 3-4 record and 3.32 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched.[4][5]

Tampa Bay Rays

On November 30, 2017, the Diamondbacks traded Taylor to the Tampa Bay Rays for Brad Boxberger.[6] Taylor split the 2018 season between the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs and the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, making 38 appearances and posting a 6-4 record and 2.54 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 8 saves in 78.0 innings pitched.[7][8] The Rays invited Taylor to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019.[1] He would play the entire season with Montgomery, making 15 appearances and recording a 3.06 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 7 saves in 17.2 innings of work.

Toronto Blue Jays

On September 1, 2019, the Rays sent Taylor to the Toronto Blue Jays as a player to be named later in their earlier trade for Eric Sogard.[9][10] Taylor did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Taylor split the 2021 season between the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, pitching in 30 games and logging a cumulative 2-3 record and 5.71 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched.[12]

Washington Nationals

On December 8, 2021, the Washington Nationals selected Taylor in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[13] In 2022, Taylor split the year between the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, Double-A Harrisburg Senators, and Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. In 34 combined appearances, he logged a 3.91 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46.0 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[14]

Chicago Cubs

On January 31, 2023, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.[15] He made 3 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, struggling to a 12.27 ERA with 7 strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Taylor was released by the Cubs on April 29.[16]

Minnesota Twins

On May 4, 2023, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization and was assigned to the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge.[17]

International career

Taylor was named to the Canadian national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "PoCo pitcher getting his Major League shot". Tri-City News. February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  2. "Big league day for PoCo pitcher Curtis Taylor, picked 119th overall by Arizona". CBC News. June 10, 2016. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023.
  3. "Port Coquitlam's Taylor chosen by Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB draft". Tri-City News. June 10, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  4. "Hard-throwing Canadian Curtis Taylor finds groove with Cougars – Chicago Tribune". Chicagotribune.com. June 18, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. Gilberto, Gerard (June 2, 2017). "Curtis Taylor notches career high eight strikeouts for Kane County Cougars". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  6. "Diamondbacks trade with Tampa Bay brings Brad Boxberger to Phoenix". Azcentral.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  7. "Who is the new Rays prospect, RHP Curtis Taylor". draysbay.com. November 30, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  8. "Rays Top 50 Prospects: No. 31, P Curtis Taylor". draysbay.com. February 14, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  9. "Former UBC ace Taylor traded to Blue Jays, excited to be with 'my hometown team'".
  10. "Derailed by injury, Taylor's baseball dream has a new destination". Tri-City News. November 22, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  11. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  12. "Blue Jays lose Tanner Kirwer and Curtis Taylor in Minor-League Rule 5 Draft, select Abdiel Mendoza from the Rangers". bluejaysnation.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  13. "Curtis Taylor is now part of the Washington Nationals". Tri-City News. December 9, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  14. "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. "Cubs Sign Taylor to Minor League Deal". February 4, 2023.
  16. "Transactions".
  17. "Transactions".
  18. "Two Coquitlam pitchers selected to Canada's World Baseball Classic team". Tri-City News. February 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
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