The phone call quickened Blake Taylor’s heartbeat. He studied the Seattle Mariners lineup and saw a long list of left-handed hitters. He is the only left-hander in the Houston bullpen. Taylor’s major league debut seemed inevitable the first weekend. On Friday, his dream came true.
Taylor recognized the apprehension when the call came for her warm-up. She pitched during the seventh inning of Friday’s 8-2 win. He entered the eighth, when three left-handed hitters were scheduled to hit for Seattle.
Taylor jogged toward the mound. She took a moment to examine the cavernous, crowd-free environment. For most established big players, playing in empty stadiums will be their biggest adjustment during this 2020 season. Taylor needed no such adaptation. He thought back to the days of the minor leagues.
“It is not a hit for Binghamton, but Binghamton did not attract many fans last year,” said Taylor, a former Binghamton Rumble Pony. “I kept telling myself, ‘It’s like Binghamton, it’s like Binghamton, it’s like Binghamton.'”
“My body took over, muscle memory happened, and nerves exploded after throwing my first punch.”
Taylor retired the team on nine pitches, including right pinch hitter Tim Lopes. Jose Altuve saved the baseball from the final outing and presented it to Taylor in the postgame clubhouse.
The debut completed Taylor’s whirlwind of seven months of travel. The Astros acquired it in December from the New York Mets in the deal with Jake Marisnick, Taylor’s second trade in his professional career. The Pirates, who selected during the second round of the 2013 draft, traded him to the Mets in 2014.
As a looming minor league free agent, Taylor was added to the Astros’ 40-player roster despite only three appearances above Class AA. He began his professional career as a starting pitcher before transitioning to the bullpen in 2018. In February, he was hoping to convert the Houston opening day bullpen. The pandemic halted most of its progress.
However, on Thursday afternoon, manager Dusty Baker summoned Taylor to his office. Taylor did not sleep the night before, knowing that the opening lists were due the next morning. She recognized her manager’s nerves. Baker was somewhat concerned.
“I thought Taylor was going to pass out, actually,” Baker said. The way she was looking, that look on her face when she sat down. I wasn’t breathing. I think he was anticipating that I was going to tell him it was cut. “
Baker said “don’t worry”. Taylor had formed the team.
“I’m not going to lie, I cried,” said Taylor. “I felt like all that hard work and effort. There are many peaks and valleys in my career, I went through many, and it is one of those feelings that I will probably never feel again. I’m glad I can feel it. “
