Blake Taylor

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Blake Taylor

|image =

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|8|17}}

|birth_place = Orange, California, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 24

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Houston Astros

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 7–6

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.06

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 67

|teams =

Houston Astros ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2022}})

}}

Blake Michael Taylor (born August 17, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros. Taylor was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB draft. He is a member of the Great Britain national team.

Career

Taylor attended Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/89237/taylor-is-player-to-be-named-in-ike-deal|title=Taylor is player to be named in Ike deal|author=Adam Rubin|website=ESPN.com|date=June 14, 2014|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Taylor was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd round, with the 51st overall selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.danapointtimes.com/blake-taylor-selected-no-51-overall-by-pirates-in-mlb-draft/|title=Blake Taylor Selected No. 51 Overall by Pirates in MLB Draft|author=Steve Breazeale|website=Dana Point Times|date=June 7, 2013|accessdate=November 4, 2019}} Taylor spent his professional debut season of 2013 with the rookie–level GCL Pirates, going 0–2 with a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings.

=New York Mets=

On June 14, 2014, Taylor was traded to the New York Mets as the PTBNL in a trade that had also sent Zack Thornton to the Mets, in exchange for Ike Davis.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/lhp-blake-taylor-acquired-from-pittsburgh-to-complete-trade/c-79895164|title=LHP Blake Taylor acquired from Pittsburgh to complete trade|website=MLB.com|date=June 14, 2014|accessdate=November 4, 2019}} Taylor split the 2014 season between the GCL Mets and the Kingsport Mets, going a combined 4–1 with a 3.95 ERA over {{frac|40|1|3}} innings.

In 2015, Taylor split the season between the GCL and the Brooklyn Cyclones, combining to go 0–0 with a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings. In 2016, Taylor made five appearances for Kingsport, going 0–0 with a 4.15 ERA in {{frac|8|2|3}} innings. In 2017, Taylor spent the season with the Columbia Fireflies, going 1–9 with a 4.94 ERA over {{frac|85|2|3}} innings. In 2018, Taylor split the season between the St. Lucie Mets and the Las Vegas 51s, going a combined 3–8 with a 5.40 ERA over {{frac|86|2|3}} innings.

In 2019, Taylor split the season between St. Lucie, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and the Syracuse Mets, combining to go 2–3 with a 2.16 ERA over {{frac|66|2|3}} innings. Following the 2019 season, Taylor played for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-arizona-fall-league-overview|title=Another homegrown arm on display in AFL|website=MLB.com|author=Mike Rosenbaum|date=October 1, 2019|accessdate=November 4, 2019}} On November 4, 2019, Taylor was added to the Mets' 40-man roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mets-roster-moves|title=Mets roster notes|website=MLB.com|date=November 4, 2019|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}

=Houston Astros=

On December 5, 2019, Taylor and Kenedy Corona were traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Jake Marisnick.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/press-release/press-release-astros-acquire-prospects-from-mets|title=Astros acquire two prospects for Mets in exchange for Marisnick|website=MLB.com|date=December 5, 2019|accessdate=December 5, 2019}} On July 24, 2020, Taylor pitched a scoreless inning in his MLB debut against the Seattle Mariners. On August 17, he earned his first career save.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/brandon-bielak-leads-astros-win-vs-rockies | title=Bielak stifles Rox in Astros' 5th straight win | work=MLB.com | author=Alyson Footer | date=August 18, 2020 | accessdate=August 19, 2020 }}

In 2020, he was 2–1 with one save and a 2.18 ERA in which he pitched {{frac|20|2|3}} innings over 22 relief appearances.{{Cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/taylobl01.shtml |title=Blake Taylor stats |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 1, 2022}} In 2021, he was 4–4 with a 3.16 ERA. In 50 relief appearances, he pitched {{frac|42|2|3}} innings.

On June 4, 2022, the Astros placed Taylor on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow discomfort and transferred him to the 60-day injured list on July 1, 2022.{{cite magazine |last=Van Doren |first=Kenny |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/report-houston-astros-lefty-blake-taylor-begins-throwing |title=Report: Houston Astros lefty Blake Taylor begins throwing |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 29, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2022}} The Astros activated Taylor on September 13, and assigned him to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Pacific Coast League.{{cite news |last=Rome |first=Chandler |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Blake-Taylor-activated-assigned-Sugar-Land-17439588.php |title=Astros' Blake Taylor activated from injured list, assigned to Sugar Land |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2022}} On the season, he pitched in 19 games for Houston and logged a 3.94 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work.

On January 13, 2023, Taylor avoided arbitration with the Astros, agreeing to a one-year, $830K contract for the season.{{Cite web |last=Dierkes |first=Tim |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/01/2023-mlb-arbitration-tracker.html |title=2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker |date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} After beginning the year in Triple–A, Taylor was designated for assignment by Houston following the waiver claim of Jake Cousins on July 31.{{Cite web|title=Astros' Blake Taylor: Pushed off 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-blake-taylor-pushed-off-40-man-roster/amp/|access-date=July 31, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On August 4, he was released by the Astros organization.{{Cite web|title=Blake Taylor, Joe Pérez clear waivers, released by Astros|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/astros-blake-taylor-joe-perez-sugar-land-minors-18279804.php|access-date=August 4, 2023|website=m-houstonchronicle.com|date=4 August 2023 |language=en}}

=Texas Rangers=

On January 25, 2024, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web|title=Rangers' Blake Taylor: Invited to Rangers camp|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-blake-taylor-invited-to-rangers-camp/amp/|access-date=January 25, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 34 appearances for the Triple–A Round Rock Express, he compiled a 4–2 record and 5.80 ERA with 40 strikeouts over {{fraction|40|1|3}} innings of work. Taylor was released by the Rangers organization on August 27.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-08-27

International

In September 2016, Taylor was selected for Great Britain at the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualification, qualifying via his British father.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/blake-taylor-642130 |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=21 September 2022 |title=Blake Taylor Stats, Fantasy & News }}