Blake Taylor

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #26 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Taylor when he was 17 with the 51st overall pick in 2013 and traded him to the Mets one year later as part of the deal for Ike Davis. He largely scuffled in the low minors until he moved to the bullpen and vaulted up to Triple-A in 2019. The Astros acquired him after the season in the deal for Jake Marisnick. Taylor made his major league debut in 2020 and earned the trust of manager Dusty Baker to pitch crucial innings as the season progressed, appearing in eight of the Astros' 13 playoff games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Taylor sticks out as a lefty in a system full of righthanded power arms. He comes at hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97 with late cut that induces a lot of weak contact. His mid-80s slider is a solid-average pitch at its best when he keeps it at the bottom of the zone, though sometimes it flattens out and stays up, allowing hitters to do damage. He's primarily a two-pitch reliever with a below-average changeup he rarely throws. Taylor's control is below-average, but he was able to get out of sticky situations last year by drawing soft contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Taylor should return to a middle relief role in Houston in 2021. Better command will be key for him to stick.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #18 prospect in 2014
  Taylor projected as a second-round pick in the 2013 draft, yet he accepted a well-below-slot $750,000 to forgo a scholarship to Hawaii. The suggested bonus for the 51st pick was $1,065,400. Taylor throws from a three-quarters arm slot, which makes it difficult for lefthanders to pick up his pitches. He also has the projectable frame that ought to allow him to increase his velocity as his body fills out. Taylor's fastball sits at 89-91 mph, though he topped out at 94. He throws a big-breaking curveball that will likely become his out-pitch as he gains experience. His changeup, though, needs quite a bit of work. While Taylor has a relatively clean delivery, his biggest problem is command and control. He's young for his draft class and did not turn 18 until two months after he graduated from Dana Hills High. The Pirates will take things slowly with Taylor and he will probably begin 2014 in extended spring training, then go to short-season Jamestown in mid-June.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #55 prospect in 2013 draft
  Taylor, a Hawaii recruit, caught scouts' attention at the Area Code Games last August, running his fastball up to 92 and flashing a promising breaking ball. He has boosted his stock this spring, though he has been a bit up and down. Physical and athletic at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he has a clean, easy delivery and a high three-quarters slot. Scouts have seen his fastball as high as 94 mph this spring, though his comfort zone is 88-91, and he has dipped below that at times. His fastball command is a work in progress. His tight downer curve flashes plus and he is still learning to command it as well. He also shows feel for a fading changeup, but it has a tendency to run away from him. Taylor needs refinement, but his potential is tantalizing, and he figures to be drafted in the top two or three rounds.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Taylor when he was 17 with the 51st overall pick in 2013 and traded him to the Mets one year later as part of the deal for Ike Davis. He largely scuffled in the low minors until he moved to the bullpen and vaulted up to Triple-A in 2019. The Astros acquired him after the season in the deal for Jake Marisnick. Taylor made his major league debut in 2020 and earned the trust of manager Dusty Baker to pitch crucial innings as the season progressed, appearing in eight of the Astros' 13 playoff games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Taylor sticks out as a lefty in a system full of righthanded power arms. He comes at hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97 with late cut that induces a lot of weak contact. His mid-80s slider is a solid-average pitch at its best when he keeps it at the bottom of the zone, though sometimes it flattens out and stays up, allowing hitters to do damage. He's primarily a two-pitch reliever with a below-average changeup he rarely throws. Taylor's control is below-average, but he was able to get out of sticky situations last year by drawing soft contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Taylor should return to a middle relief role in Houston in 2021. Better command will be key for him to stick.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates drafted Taylor when he was 17 with the 51st overall pick in 2013 and traded him to the Mets one year later as part of the deal for Ike Davis. He largely scuffled in the low minors until he moved to the bullpen and vaulted up to Triple-A in 2019. The Astros acquired him after the season in the deal for Jake Marisnick. Taylor made his major league debut in 2020 and earned the trust of manager Dusty Baker to pitch crucial innings as the season progressed, appearing in eight of the Astros' 13 playoff games.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Taylor sticks out as a lefty in a system full of righthanded power arms. He comes at hitters with a 92-95 mph fastball that tops out at 97 with late cut that induces a lot of weak contact. His mid-80s slider is a solid-average pitch at its best when he keeps it at the bottom of the zone, though sometimes it flattens out and stays up, allowing hitters to do damage. He's primarily a two-pitch reliever with a below-average changeup he rarely throws. Taylor's control is below-average, but he was able to get out of sticky situations last year by drawing soft contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Taylor should return to a middle relief role in Houston in 2021. Better command will be key for him to stick.