Josh Taylor

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #25 prospect in 2017
  Taylor went undrafted after high school and junior college in the Phoenix area because he was a slender lefthander topping out in the 80s. He also didn't get much attention in his one year at Division II Georgia College & State, where he finished with a 5.62 ERA and 57 strikeouts against 41 walks. Taylor then touched 97 mph at the all-star game in the summer collegiate Northwoods League in 2014, which caught the attention of Phillies scouts, who signed the southpaw for $50,000. The Diamondbacks acquired Taylor about a year later when they unloaded $2.2 million in international bonus pool money in a trade with the Phillies. While he's never put up overwhelming numbers, Taylor jumped up the depth chart late in 2016 with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, where he recorded a 3.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and five walks in 22.2 innings. His fastball sits 91-94 mph with decent cutting action in on righthanded batters and sinking action on lefthanders. None of his three secondary pitches--slider, curveball, changeup--grades as above-average, but deception in his repeatable delivery helps them play up. Taylor projects as a No. 5 starter, though his velocity would likely tick up pitching out of the bullpen.