Coming into the game in the sixth, Taylor finished out the game, striking out eight, giving up a single hit. That single hit, though, came around to score. And it proved to be the difference in a 1-0 Huntington loss, according to The Portsmouth Daily Times.
Taylor was in his second professional season that year for Huntington. He went on to pitch in a total of seven seasons. Taylor, though, never made the majors.
Taylor's career began in 1989, taken by the Cubs in the 15th round of the draft, out of Earl Wooster High School in Reno, Nev.
With the Cubs, Taylor started at rookie Wytheville, going 5-6 over 15 outings, 13 starts. His ERA hit 7.37.
He returned to rookie ball for 1990 at Huntington, pitching better. He went 5-5 over 26 relief outings, keeping his ERA at 1.84. He also saved 11 games. Taylor picked up a win in a June game on three innings of relief.
Taylor played 1991 between single-A Peoria and short-season Geneva, then 1992 at high-A Winston-Salem. At Winston Salem, he went 10-7 in 62 relief appearances, with 20 saves.
Taylor then played 1993 between high-A Daytona and AA Orlando. That June, Taylor picked up a win as Orlando won on a walk-off. After that game, Taylor's manager Tommy Jones commended Taylor's work and that of two other relievers, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
''If (Bill) Melvin, (Earnie) Johnson and Taylor don't come through in the middle innings, we don't win,'' Jones told The Sentinel.
Taylor isn't recorded as playing in 1994. He then came back for five outings with AA Huntsville in 1995 and 17 outings in 1996 at independent Sonoma County, ending his career.
- Portsmouth Daily Times, June 22, 1990: One hit fatal in opener
- Orlando Sentinel, June 5, 1993: Franco's Homer In 9th Lifts Cubs
Players/Coaches Featured:1,227
Made the Majors: 693 - 56.5%
Never Made Majors: 534-43.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 297
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 177
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