Top Pirates draft pick Jameson Taillon was excellent in his third professional start Sunday, allowing one run and no walks to go with five strikeouts in five innings as the West Virginia Power beat Augusta, 12-6. (Catcher Kawika Emsley-Pai and 2010 draft pick Matt Curry combined for nine RBIs, if you're wondering where all those runs came from.) Aside from the first inning of his first pro start, Taillon has been as good as advertised so far, racking up 11 strikeouts and two walks in 11 innings. That doesn't mean a promotion is imminent, however - expect the Pirates to proceed slowly with him, since he's only 19.
↵In other Pirates minor league news, Bradenton starter Kyle McPherson was also terrific Sunday, racking up eight strikeouts in seven innings. McPherson is quietly having a remarkable season, with 38 strikeouts against one walk. A 38:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio provides just about the clearest possible evidence that a pitcher is dominating his level. Unlike Taillon, McPherson is 23 and probably won't last long at Bradenton if he continues to produce.