Jameson Taillon was “star-struck” the first time he met Jay Bruce, about a decade ago when he was a minor-leaguer and Bruce was a budding superstar in Cincinnati.
“I got to work out with him one offseason when I was a minor-leaguer; that was when he was in Cincinnati hitting like 30 home runs a year, so I was star-struck being around him, but I was impressed with the way he worked,” Taillon said Sunday, asked about Bruce’s retirement during his usual “day-before” starting pitcher chat.
Taillon never faced Bruce in a major-league game, despite Bruce’s time in the National League, but they were teammates for a couple of months with the Yankees. Bruce’s Yankees tenure ended Sunday, when he announced he was retiring, and Taillon, as the only Yankees player to speak (besides Bruce) pre-game, sent well-wishes to his long-time acquaintance.
“Hats off to him on a great career. It’s like one percent of the one percent who can say they played 10 years in the majors,” Taillon said. “I enjoyed working with him; he was super professional, he cared a bunch, and I know he liked being around the guys in this room. Sad to see him go, but it’s his decision, and hopefully he enjoys his retirement.”
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