Curtis Taylor (baseball)

{{about|| the Australian footballer|Curtis Taylor (Australian footballer)|the American football player|Curtis Taylor (American football)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Curtis Taylor

|image =

|team = St. Louis Cardinals

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|7|25}}

|birth_place = Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

}}

Curtis Wesley Taylor (born July 25, 1995) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Career

Taylor played youth baseball for the Coquitlam Reds of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League. 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.{{cite web |title=Big league day for PoCo pitcher Curtis Taylor, picked 119th overall by Arizona |date=June 10, 2016 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312233835/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/arizona-calling-ubc-pitcher-curtis-taylor-taken-in-4th-round-of-mlb-draft-1.3620811 |archive-date=March 12, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/arizona-calling-ubc-pitcher-curtis-taylor-taken-in-4th-round-of-mlb-draft-1.3620811}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tricitynews.com/sports/port-coquitlam-s-taylor-chosen-by-arizona-diamondbacks-in-mlb-draft-1.2275883 |title=Port Coquitlam's Taylor chosen by Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB draft |publisher=Tri-City News |date=June 10, 2016 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}} 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 {{fraction|62|1|3}} innings pitched.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-abn-baseball-cougars-st-0619-20170618-story.html |title=Hard-throwing Canadian Curtis Taylor finds groove with Cougars – Chicago Tribune |publisher=Chicagotribune.com |date=June 18, 2017 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}}{{cite web|last=Gilberto |first=Gerard |url=https://www.milb.com/news/curtis-taylor-notches-career-high-eight-strikeouts-for-kane-county-cou-234040126 |title=Curtis Taylor notches career high eight strikeouts for Kane County Cougars |publisher=MiLB.com |date=June 2, 2017 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On November 30, 2017, the Diamondbacks traded Taylor to the Tampa Bay Rays for Brad Boxberger.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2017/11/30/diamondbacks-trade-brad-boxberger-tampa-bay-rays/909435001/ |title=Diamondbacks trade with Tampa Bay brings Brad Boxberger to Phoenix |publisher=Azcentral.com |date= |accessdate=March 12, 2023}} 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 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Who is the new Rays prospect, RHP Curtis Taylor|url=https://www.draysbay.com/platform/amp/2017/11/30/16720426/tampa-bay-rays-prospect-rhp-curtis-taylor-trade|access-date=2023-05-04|website=draysbay.com|date=November 30, 2017 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Rays Top 50 Prospects: No. 31, P Curtis Taylor|url=https://www.draysbay.com/platform/amp/2018/2/14/16999462/tampa-bay-rays-prospects-p-curtis-taylor-top-50|access-date=2023-05-04|website=draysbay.com|date=February 14, 2018 |language=en}} The Rays invited Taylor to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-sports/poco-pitcher-getting-his-major-league-shot-3092842 |title=PoCo pitcher getting his Major League shot |publisher=Tri-City News |date=February 1, 2019 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}} He would play the entire season with Montgomery, making 15 appearances and recording a 3.06 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 7 saves in {{fraction|17|2|3}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://theprovince.com/sports/baseball/former-ubc-ace-taylor-traded-to-blue-jays-excited-to-be-with-my-hometown-team | title=Former UBC ace Taylor traded to Blue Jays, excited to be with 'my hometown team' }}{{cite web|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-sports/derailed-by-injury-taylors-baseball-dream-has-a-new-destination-3111445 |title=Derailed by injury, Taylor's baseball dream has a new destination |publisher=Tri-City News |date=November 22, 2019 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}} Taylor did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=2023-05-03|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

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 {{fraction|34|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays lose Tanner Kirwer and Curtis Taylor in Minor-League Rule 5 Draft, select Abdiel Mendoza from the Rangers|url=https://bluejaysnation.com/news/amp/blue-jays-lose-tanner-kirwer-and-curtis-taylor-in-minor-league-rule-5-draft-select-abdiel-mendoza-from-the-rangers|access-date=2023-05-04|website=bluejaysnation.com|language=en}}

=Washington Nationals=

On December 8, 2021, the Washington Nationals selected Taylor in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-sports/port-coquitlam-pitcher-plucked-by-washington-nationals-4849887 |title=Curtis Taylor is now part of the Washington Nationals |publisher=Tri-City News |date=December 9, 2021 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}} 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.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=2023-05-02|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On January 31, 2023, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/cubs/news/cubs-ink-taylor-curtis-minor-league-deal | title=Cubs Sign Taylor to Minor League Deal | date=February 4, 2023 }} He made 3 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, struggling to a 12.27 ERA with 7 strikeouts in {{fraction|3|2|3}} innings pitched. Taylor was released by the Cubs on April 29.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-04-29/p-1 | title=Transactions }}

=Minnesota Twins=

On May 4, 2023, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-04 | title=Transactions }} He spent the remainder of the year with the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge, also appearing in one game for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints. In 31 games for Wichita, Taylor recorded a 3.98 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 43 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 23, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=Algodoneros de Unión Laguna=

On June 25, 2024, Taylor signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 25 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-25-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 26, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} In 14 appearances for the Algodoneros, Taylor struggled to a 7.53 ERA with 9 strikeouts across {{fraction|14|1|3}} innings pitched.

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On February 10, 2025, Taylor signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web|title=Cardinals Sign Minor League Journeyman Pitcher Curtis Taylor|url= https://thecardinalnation.com/cardinals-sign-minor-league-journeyman-pitcher-curtis-taylor/|access-date=February 22, 2025|website=thecardinalnation.com|language=en}}

International career

Taylor was named to the Canadian national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/coquitlam-reds-alumni-to-pitch-for-canada-at-world-baseball-classic-6528295 |title=Two Coquitlam pitchers selected to Canada's World Baseball Classic team |publisher=Tri-City News |date=February 12, 2023 |accessdate=March 12, 2023}}