Report: Houston Astros Lefty Blake Taylor Begins Throwing

Houston Astros reliever Blake Taylor began throwing again yesterday in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

After being placed on the 15-day injured list June 4 with left elbow discomfort, Blake Taylor's return to the Houston Astros' bullpen didn't seem to be anytime soon following his transfer to the 60-day on July 1.

Taylor started throwing Thursday at the Astros' spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., per Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. With Parker Mushinski in Triple-A Sugar Land, Houston currently rosters one lefty on staff in Framber Valdez.

Without a lefty out of the bullpen, the Astros have proven to be just fine without a specialist. Ryne Stanek, Héctor Neris and Phil Maton favor lefty batters based on their respective splits. 

Taylor threw 16 innings before his injured list placement with a 3.94 ERA and nine strikeouts to 10 walks. The lefty has yet to be optioned in his three-year major league career while a timetabled return has yet to be reported.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

  1. Astros Sign Undrafted Free Agent Pitcher Temple
  2. Astros Prospect Kessinger Piecing Together Better Offense Play
  3. Report: Astros Expressing Interest in Marlins' Cooper
  4. Bregman, Urquidy Lift Astros Over Mariners
  5. Report: Astros Sign 11th-Round Pick Clifford
  6. Murphy Could be Next on Trade List for Astros
  7. As Meyers Struggles, Astros Should Target Center Fielder in Trade
  8. Report: Teams Exploring Trades for José Siri
  9. Astros' McCullers Stretches to Three Innings in Second Rehab Start
  10. Astros' Urquidy Rediscovering Success with New Pitch Mix

Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!


Published
Kenny Van Doren
KENNY VAN DOREN

Kenny Van Doren is a writer for FanNation's 'Inside the Astros,' part of Sports Illustrated. Kenny formerly covered the Astros for Climbing Tal's Hill of FanSided. Kenny also attends the University of Missouri where he studies journalism.