Taillon in his 'comfort zone' after throwing first bullpen session

ATLANTA — Jameson Taillon wants to get back to making headlines for his pitching instead of his cancer diagnosis.

He took another step toward accomplishing that goal Tuesday.

Taillon was cleared for his first bullpen session, and threw 25 pitches from a mound at SunTrust Park before the Pirates' 7:35 p.m. game against the Braves.



"It puts things in perspective I guess, but for me I really want to return to normalcy," Taillon told reporters afterward. "I know it’s everyone’s job to talk about it, but I want to get to a point where we’re not talking about it, I’m not the center of attention, I make my headlines pitching."

The Pirates' right-handed pitcher was cleared for light baseball workouts last Monday, including light jogging on the field and playing catch, but this is the first road trip he's taken with the team since he underwent surgery for testicular cancer on May 8.

Results from that surgery confirmed the cancer diagnosis, and all signs since have been encouraging. Results from blood work taken Monday allowed Taillon to take the next step in his return to the mound.

He'll have to continue having such tests once every "couple of weeks," but this latest step was a relief for Taillon.

"Every step has been a relief along the way, every little step of good news is a relief in its own way," he said. "Being out here, being around the guys and getting on the mound, that’s the biggest relief. That’s my comfort zone."

Taillon walked onto the field at SunTrust Park with Chad Kuhl on Tuesday afternoon, and the two played catch in left field with head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk watching closely. Taillon then had his first bullpen session, and he threw all of his pitches to Chris Stewart.

He had no residual effects, according to Tomczyk, and will play catch again on Wednesday. Taillon did not hold back when throwing, either.

"I feel pretty good. I feel healthy. You have to be patient as far as not being out there competing, but I got out there and I let it eat pretty good off the mound today," Taillon said. "I wasn’t really holding back on anything."

Taillon, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list on May 6 with groin discomfort, underwent surgery at Allegheny General Hospital after consulting with Dr. John C. Lyne, M.D. 

He was 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in six starts with the Pirates this season.

The 25-year-old started 18 games for the Pirates in 2016, finishing with a 5-4 record. Prior to that, though, the former No. 2 overall draft pick had a difficult time getting on the pitching mound.

Taillon missed the 2014 season following Tommy John surgery and then missed all of 2015 with lingering effects of that surgery. He then underwent surgery for a sports hernia, and finally reached the major leagues last June, finishing with a 5-4 record, a 3.38 ERA and 85 strikeouts against 17 walks in 104 innings.

Clint Hurdle did not watch the bullpen session, but was overjoyed with this latest benchmark in Taillon's recovery.

"Very encouraged," he said. "We’ll take it one step at a time. This will be the next step today to get him out there to throw a 25-pitch bullpen, and we’ll map something out from here. I know he was happy to get on the mound, and we got some good news today that will allow him return to pitch progression."

Taillon ran sprints after the session, and met all of the times laid out for him. He also went through an extensive workout in the weight room inside SunTrust Park.

Taillon and the Pirates will take his recovery "day by day," but it's clear how he felt being back in the clubhouse with his teammates and working out before a game.

"That’s my comfort zone," he said. "That’s where I’m most relaxed."

• Gregory Polanco underwent an extensive workout prior to Tuesday's game, running sprints in the outfield and other agility work.

He was scheduled to take batting practice Monday, but rain forced him to wait until Tuesday.

"I feel really good," Polanco said. "So much better. It just feels so good putting in a workout like that, because I want to see how close I am to returning."

Polanco was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to May 15. He could be eligible to return as early as Friday, but it's not know whether or not he will require a minor league rehab assignment.