Skip to main content

BlueClaws Quotables: Non-drafted signee LHP Josh Taylor

Taylor, image- Jay Floyd
Lakewood BlueClaws hurler Josh Taylor has made an impact with the Class A club in the early going this season. Through four starts, the 22-year-old sports a 1-1 record with a 3.68 ERA while having struck out 24 and walked four in 22 innings.

After pitching in a summer showcase for college players last summer, the Phillies made an offer to the undrafted hard-throwing lefty. Once he signed, the six-foot-five 225-pounder notched a 2-0 record without allowing a run in three relief appearances for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies.

Recently, I spoke with Josh, an Arizona native, about how he came to sign with the Phils last year, his pitching coach with Lakewood, Aaron Fultz, and more. Read ahead for those quotes.

-Speaking on how the Phillies came to sign him...

I went to two years at junior college and then I signed with a Division II school out of Georgia, Georgia College, and they set me up with a summer league out in the Northwoods League. And, from there, I got put into a showcase game and right after the game I got a call from a scout from (the Phillies) and after that, that's what it was. I couldn't say no.

-Describing his outing that the Phils first saw him...

I was pumped, because I think it's called The Big League Dream Showcase and I got the start. My velocity was good and I think that's what really sent me there. I allowed one hit, one walk, it was only an inning of work. I mean, it was nothing special. It was just a tall lefty throwing hard.

-Sharing details on his repertoire and velocity...

My fastball (in my first start) topped out at 95, but I'm usually 92 to 94. I got a curve ball, slider, change up and two-seam.


-Commenting on the feedback he's gotten from coaches in the early going this year...

They're just saying I'm doing good. And when I do something (Coach Fultz) doesn't agree with, he'll ask me- he won't say, "Why'd you do that?" He just says, "Okay. What did you do?" And whether he agrees with it or not, he says, "Here's what I think." And we come to an agreement and we go from there.

-Replying on if feedback from Fultz means more because he's been to the top level with the Phillies...

Oh, yeah. Especially with him being left-handed and him knowing what it takes to get to the next level. Him saying, "Why would you throw this in this count?" Well, that's something you think about and he obviously knows what he's talking about. He was successful doing what he was doing. It is a big help.

-Speaking on what player he looked up to most as a fan, growing up...

"Big Unit"! Randy Johnson. Being a big D-Backs fan, he was the one I watched closely and wanted to be like growing up. The way he carried himself on and off the field and the person he was on the mound. He wasn't going to give in. He was focused every pitch and that's something I try to mimic doing, being focused every pitch and having that- not cockiness, but that intensity and that, you know, that drive on the mound being able to say, "I'm better than you", and get you out.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

A Letter to This Guy

Dear Cardinals fan, When a homerun ball is hit in your direction, do not close your eyes and raise both hands far above your head, leaving your face/chest/neck/head defenseless. Jayson Werth long balls to the cranium are probably not very comfortable. Next time, let the guy in the pajama pants behind you take a crack at it. He may not know how to dress well, but he keeps his eyes open in the face of killer shots from World Champion outfielders. Love, PhoulBallz.com PS- Stay hot.

Kendrick & LaGrossa- Second Phils/Survivor Marriage

On Saturday, Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick married 3-time Survivor contestant and former Flyers employee Stephenie LaGrossa. The couple exchanged vows in front of 105 guests at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. Their special day featured many personalized aspects, including cocktail hour snacks modeled in the fashion of mini Philly cheesesteaks, as well as the couple's two dogs, Bebe and Champ, serving as flower girl and ring bearer during the ceremony. The pets wore a white dress and a tuxedo, respectively. Kendrick is now the second Phillies pitcher to marry a former contestant of the CBS reality competition program, as lefty Cole Hamels wedded Heidi Strobel, who appeared on the sixth season of Survivor, in 2007. _________________________________________________________________ Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter, for updates, stats and info, by clicking HERE . Photos- People.com