Blake Taylor #62

Blake Michael Taylor…Instagram: @ blakemtaylor…went 2-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 11 games as a senior at Dana Hills H.S. in Dana Point, Calif.…was a 2013 Rawlings Third-Team All-American and a California All-Region First-Team selection…had committed to play collegiately at the University of Hawaii but opted to play professionally after being selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft…Blake’s hometown of Dana Point is considered a mecca for surfers and whale watchers, and hosts an annual Festival of Whales every spring...Taylor grew up SCUBA diving in those waters and dreamed of being a Navy SEAL…father is from England, which allowed him to play for Team Great Britain in the 2016 World Baseball Classic...the family grew up with British traditions and eating British fair, with Blake saying the family drinks a lot of tea and eats a lot of curry.

2023

Went 0-2 with a 5.15 ERA (21 ER/36.2 IP) in 35 relief appearances for the Sugar Land Skeeters (AAA) of the Houston farm system…began campaign on the Astros’ 15-day Injured List with left elbow discomfort, a stint which included a rehab assignment with Sugar Land…activated 4/11 and subsequently optioned to Triple-A…was scoreless over first six appearances 3/31-4/19 before permitting a run in each of next six appearances 4/21-5/6…designated for assignment on 7/31 and released 8/4.

2022

Was 1-1 in 19 MLB games, posting a 3.94 ERA... battled left elbow discomfort throughout season, resulting in a long IL stint beginning on June 4...Made his third career Opening Day roster and his third straight with Astros...In Major League action, earned four holds in 19 MLB games with the Astros in the regular season...fared better on the road early in 2022, allowing a 3.60 ERA...held lefty batters to a .219 batting average... with RISP, allowed just a .136 batting average...Put on the IL on June 4...transferred to the 60-day IL on July 1...began a rehab assignment with the FCL Astros on Aug. 11...returned on Sept. 13 to Triple A...In his 12 Minor League games with Rookie-level Astros Blue and Triple-A Sugar Land he allowed a .158 opponent batting average...With the Space Cowboys, started one game while relieving in 10, where he had a 5.06 ERA despite holding opposing batters to a .176 average and having a 2-0 record.

2021

Recorded another solid season for Houston, notching a 3.16 ERA (15ER/42.2IP) with 41 strikeouts and 4-4 record in 51 games...Was dominant against lefties on the season, allowing just a .123 (8x65) opponent batting average and a .208 OBP against fellow southpaws. ..Made his second consecutive OPENING DAY roster and pitched on Opening Day, April 1 at OAK... struck out 1B Matt Olson with two on in the 8th inning to preserve the Astros lead in their eventual 8-1 win...Posted a 2.30 ERA in his last 21 apps. after Aug. 1 (15.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 BB, 13 SO)...posted a 2.35 ERA in his final 29 apps. after July 18 (23 IP, 6 ER, 11 BB, 20 SO)...Was not on the Astros ALDS roster but was added for the ALCS and WS rosters...recorded a 2.70 ERA (1ER/3.1IP) with five strikeouts in four POSTSEASON games.

2020

Made his MLB debut with Houston and became an important member of Houston’s bullpen...made his first-career OPENING DAY roster and spent the entire season in the Astros bullpen, aside from a 10-day IL stint (elbow soreness)...Among AL rookie relievers, ranked ninth in appearances, sixth in ERA and seventh in opponent average (.173)...posted MLB’s sixth-best average exit velocity on batted balls (83 mph)...Was equally effective against both right-handed and left-handed hitters...held lefties to a .532 OPS and a .171 (6x35) batting average...held righties to a .598 OPS and a .175 (7x40) batting average...Began his Major League career with six scoreless relief outings, becoming one of seven pitchers in club history to do so...Made his MLB debut on July 24 vs. SEA with a perfect eighth inning of relief...became the first Astros pitcher to make his MLB debut on Opening Day since Wesley Wright in 2008 at SD...On Aug. 17 vs. COL, earned his first-career save, working around a leadoff walk to Charlie Blackmon with a scoreless ninth inning...Was on the Astros POSTSEASON rosters for all three rounds, but only pitched in the ALDS and ALCS, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (1ER/5.2IP) with four strikeouts in eight games...was scoreless over his first five postseason appearances.