Top prospect Taillon earns promotion to Triple-A

PITTSBURGH -- Righty Jameson Taillon, the Pirates' top prospect, has been promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis and is expected to be activated Monday. Because of the move, he could see some Major League time as early as 2014.

The second-overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft posted a 3.67 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 2.94 K/BB ratio in 20 appearances (19 starts) with Double-A Altoona this season. He ranks 12th on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list.

Taillon allowed 10 runs and 13 hits over 3 1/3 innings on July 13, but the 6-foot-6 righty has otherwise been consistent. He allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks over his past two outings, striking out 13 in 12 innings.

Gerrit Cole, the first overall pick in 2011 and Pittsburgh's top prospect entering this season, was sent to Indianapolis from Altoona in August 2012 and made his Major League debut less than a year later on June 11, 2013.