FLASH: PTBNL is LHP Blake Taylor

The Mets and Pirates completed the Ike Davis trade today naming 2013 2nd round draft pick LHP Blake Taylor as the PTBNL. At just 18 years old, the team will assign Taylor to the Gulf Coast League Mets (Rk) to get a first hand view of him before deciding on an assignment path.

Coming out of HS last year, Keith Law rated Taylor as the 40th best player in the draft. He was a 2013 Rawlings third-team All-American, as well as a California All-Region First-Team selection. Taylor throws his fastball in the 90-92 MPH range with plus movement and has touched mid-90s with the pitch which is premium velocity for left-handers. He pairs the fastball with a curveball that is considered a plus pitch.

Last year the Pirates gave Taylor a taste of professional ball allowing him to throw 21 inning in 7 starts. In those appearances, Taylor posted a strong 2.57 ERA giving up only 7 hits with 13 K's and 9 BB's at just 17 years against competition 3 years older than him on average.

(Man.....Sandy does it again. Taylor is an extremely strong get for Ike Davis who isn't producing that much in Pittsburgh either. This gives the club two strong future left handers in the system in Taylor and Steven Matz.)