Taillon Serves As Example For Nick Kingham
PITTSBURGH—Nick Kingham and Jameson Taillon are brothers in surgically repaired right arms.
Taillon, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, had Tommy John surgery in April 2014 and made his major league debut last June.
Kingham had the same procedure in May 2015 and is hoping to follow Taillon’s timetable and reach Pittsburgh this year. He will likely begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was pitching in 2015 when he injured his elbow.
The two shared a condo in Taillon’s hometown of Houston during the offseason and worked out together at the same facility, along with outfield prospect Barrett Barnes and lefthander Brandon Waddell as well as former Pirates closer Mark Melancon, who signed with the Giants this offseason.
The 25-year-old Kingham, who signed with the Pirates as a fourth-round pick in 2010 out of high school in Las Vegas, feels he is back to full strength. He went a combined 3-5, 2.93 in 10 starts with three clubs last season, including two outings at Double-A Altoona to end the year.
“It was just good to be sure the elbow was going to hold up over a full game at full intensity,” Kingham said. “That gives me peace of mind coming into this season.”
Kingham also believes it is helpful to have Taillon to serve as an adviser.
“Looking at what he does and the progression he’s gone through is definitely a good way to expect what will happen to me,” Kingham said. “I just want to follow in his footsteps and take whatever he did and do it for myself.”
After making 14 starts at Indianapolis at the end of 2014 and six more in 2015, Kingham thought he was on the cusp of the major leagues.
That made the early stages of his rehab tougher from a mental standpoint.
“To sit out and have that opportunity not come yet, it is a little discouraging and saddening but it has fueled me to work that much harder,” Kingham said. “If I don’t make it, it was the talent that didn’t get me there, not the lack of opportunity.”
PITTBURGERS
• First baseman Josh Bell was unable to participate in baseball activities at the start of spring training while recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery, but he is expecting to be ready by Opening Day.
• The Pirates purchased righthanded reliever Pat Light from the Twins. He made his big league debut last year and got hammered for an 11.34 ERA and 2.28 WHIP.
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