Former Winchester Royal Taylor Hill (2008) has been a brewing story all minor league season so far.
Taylor was very good in 2013 at three different levels- maxing out at Triple-A. He was a combined 9-9, 2.95 in 164 2/3 innings, with 29 walks and 104 strikeouts.
The Nationals, who drafted Taylor in the 6th round in 2011, aggressively placed him in Triple-A to start the 2014 season, and Taylor has responded. In his first start, on April 6, Hill spun 6 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits, 0 walks, and struck out 5.
His latest start, though, is the best pitching performance by any Valley League alumni this season. Last night, against Toledo, with a stiff wind at his back, Taylor threw a complete game shutout while allowing only 3 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 5.
On the year thus far, Taylor is now 4-1, 1.82 in 39 2/3 innings, with 34 hits allowed, 5 walks, and 34 strikeouts. His results have definitely grabbed some attention in the prospect ranking community.
John Sickels, for example, has covered Taylor recently, and wrote:
Despite his statistical success, Hill doesn’t draw glowing scouting reports. The 6-3, 230 pound right-hander uses a four-pitch mix with a fastball, slider, regular changeup and occasional splitter. Reports on his fastball velocity are all over the map, reported anywhere from 87 to 93 MPH. I don’t have a current velocity report from Syracuse (chime in with one if you have something from a reliable source or a personal observation), but his strikeout rate has taken a step forward this year, which is always a good sign. He has potential as a back-end starter or bullpen arm and is a good bet to see the big leagues later this year if he keeps pitching like this.
So, even without the glowing reports, Taylor is succeeding- dominating, even- at the level just below the major leagues. Hopefully he will get a chance to pitch at the highest level soon!
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