Two Tommy John surgeries, one sports hernia, a bout with testicular cancer, and a line drive off the head that couldn’t even knock him out of a game.
Tough to decide whether Jameson Taillon needs a copy of the board game “Operation” or simply a partridge in a pear tree, but what he does have is a fresh start with the Yankees – one that comes with both a fresh outlook on life and pitching, and a whole new set of mechanics.
“This has been a normal offseason for me, which has been very welcome – it felt like a fresh slate, throwing bullpens not for rehab, but to get ready to compete,” Taillon said Monday in his introductory Zoom call with the New York media. “When you’re going through it all, it doesn’t seem like as much as it sounds, but each experience is separate and you learn something new every time. When you rehab, the focus is on winning that day, and then stringing good days together.”
Taillon has done just that since his second Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2019, and waking up in the hospital after that surgery was like a wake-up call for his career.
“I went into my surgery and wasn’t 100 percent sure if it was a full revision, and it was – it was worse than they thought. But from the moment I woke up, I felt like I was fixed,” Taillon said. “I had a coming to grips moment where I knew my mechanics weren’t working, and I needed to change or else my career would be over. I stripped it all the way down – all you have is time, 12 to 15 months in rehab – and I’ve changed a lot. I’m extremely excited to show what I’ve changed and what I can do. It’s the first time in my career where I’m excited to throw, and I’m recovering extremely well, but none of that matters unless I go out and prove it.”
Taillon changed his mechanics in part to take pressure off his elbow, and has made a whole revamp from the top down. Now, instead of the “long, whippy motion” he used to have, the righty changed to more of a lower body-centric movement that gets the legs more into it, and has seen results both mechanically and physically so far.”
“I always heard that you throw with your legs, but I was never properly taught. Now, I’m activating my legs to take pressure off my arm, and it shortened my arm path,” he said “It’s much closer to the body, and the ball is coming out well – I’ve added some spin and carry to my fastball and some spin on my slider. Health is main goal, but I think performance will be a really good byproduct of it – and since my surgery, I haven’t even had to take an anti-inflammatory or anything for pain in my elbow.”
It wasn’t an easy road, but one Taillon knew he had to travel, and equipped himself properly to do so.
“If you have two Tommy John surgeries, it’s clear that something you were doing wasn’t working, so if you’re not willing to strip it down and change, your stuff might regress or your career might end,” he said. “I viewed this as an opportunity to make the necessary changes. I got super curious about biomechanics, and used weighted balls for the first time in my career. It’s been an interesting process for me to relearn, but the number one thing I’ve learned is to never stop learning and be willing to collaborate. Injuries have sparked my curiosity, and if I can prove to people that the second surgery fixed me, why can’t I be better than before?”
Taillon worked with anybody and everybody – almost literally – on coming up with his new motion, naming numerous people within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, as well as strength coaches near his home in Houston, and the Florida Baseball Ranch outside of Tampa. He now has Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake in that circle, and a lot of repetition later, he’s comfortable where he’s at.
“I hate seeing videos of the way I used to throw, and I love where I’m at now. It’s taken a village to rehab, so I love the teamwork approach and collaboration. I take video every single day, to make sure I’m on the right track and keeping the right habits,” Taillon said. “At first it was a fight, but somewhere along the way, it became muscle memory and became more natural. The other day, I did a dry throw in my house the way I used to throw, and it felt so foreign to me, which was a good sign.”
Another group he reached out to as well? His fellow pitchers in the two-time Tommy John club.
I played with Daniel Hudson in Pittsburgh, and I don’t know if I told him this, but I saw him record the last out of the World Series down in Houston, and it was emotional for me,” he said. “I had just had my surgery, and to see a two-time TJ guy out there celebrating, it definitely inspired me. I’ve also gotten to know Nate Eovaldi pretty well and we’ve had some good talks. I don’t know if it’s a group you want to be a part of, but it’s been an interesting and open one to be a part of.”
So after playing catch five months in, throwing bullpens last July, and getting up to about three innings in live BP at the end of the season, what kind of pitcher will Taillon be in 2021?
“I’m probably four-seam heavy right now as I’ve added some vert, some carry, and some spin to it, so I think that will play. My velo was 92-95 in BP without a ton of adrenaline, so I think that’ll be where it needs to be, and I think new arm action will have a little more deception,” he said. “My curveball has always been my best pitch, and I added a slider a couple years ago – it looked like more a cutter before but now looks like a true slider, spinning extremely hard.”
The sinker he used a lot pre-second surgery has been all but abandoned, but this old dog is also learning some new tricks even post-injuries.
“I’ve been toying with a change-up for years, and just recently found a grip I’m comfortable with,” he said. “Spinning the ball has always come easier than turning it over, but I’m looking to add it in.”
If it all comes easy, the Yankees will have a bargain for the next two years.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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