Blake Taylor #62

Began high school at El Toro HS in Lake Forest, Calif.... transferred to Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, Calif., for his junior and senior seasons, graduating from Dana Point in 2013...went 2-3 with a 2.57 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 11 games as a senior...was a 2013 Rawlings Third-Team All-American and a California All-Region First-Team selection...Blake’s hometown of Dana Point is considered a mecca for surfers and whale watchers, and hosts an annual Festival of Whales every spring...Taylor grew up SCUBA diving in those waters and dreamed of being a Navy SEAL...Blake’s father is from England, which allowed him to play for Team Great Britain in the 2016 World Baseball Classic...the family grew up with British traditions and eating British fair, with Blake saying the family drinks a lot of tea and eats a lot of curry...Blake is a huge Marvel fan and a Star Wars fan...for Star Wars Night in 2021, the Astros asked Blake to name as many Star Wars characters as possible in one minutes time for a video board feature...Blake rattled off 26 characters, including lesser known Jedi Ahsoka and Plo Kloon, Rebel fighter Captain Antilles and the droid R4...Was committed to play at the University of Hawaii, but opted to play professionally after being selected by the Pirates in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft... signed by Pirates scout Brian Tracy...Spent one season in the Pirates system before being traded to New York (NL) as part of the return for IF Ike Davis...would pitch another six years in the Mets system before being added to their 40-man roster on Nov. 4, 2019...Earned that addition after a standout 2019 campaign, in which he transitioned to a relief role...had worked as a starter for his first six minor league seasons (2013-18)...Traded to the Astros on Dec. 5, 2019...Houston also received 19-year old OF Kenedy Corona in the deal that sent OF Jake Marisnick to the Mets...has accrued a full 3.000 years of service time in his three seasons (2020-22) in Houston.

2022

Was 1-1 in 19 MLB games, posting a 3.94 ERA... battled left elbow discomfort throughout season, resulting in a long IL stint beginning on June 4...Made his third career Opening Day roster and his third straight with Astros...In Major League action, earned four holds in 19 MLB games with the Astros in the regular season...fared better on the road early in 2022, allowing a 3.60 ERA...held lefty batters to a .219 batting average... with RISP, allowed just a .136 batting average...Put on the IL on June 4...transferred to the 60-day IL on July 1...began a rehab assignment with the FCL Astros on Aug. 11...returned on Sept. 13 to Triple A...In his 12 Minor League games with Rookie-level Astros Blue and Triple-A Sugar Land he allowed a .158 opponent batting average...With the Space Cowboys, started one game while relieving in 10, where he had a 5.06 ERA despite holding opposing batters to a .176 average and having a 2-0 record.

2021

Recorded another solid season for Houston, notching a 3.16 ERA (15ER/42.2IP) with 41 strikeouts and 4-4 record in 51 games...Was dominant against lefties on the season, allowing just a .123 (8x65) opponent batting average and a .208 OBP against fellow southpaws. ..Made his second consecutive OPENING DAY roster and pitched on Opening Day, April 1 at OAK... struck out 1B Matt Olson with two on in the 8th inning to preserve the Astros lead in their eventual 8-1 win...Posted a 2.30 ERA in his last 21 apps. after Aug. 1 (15.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 BB, 13 SO)...posted a 2.35 ERA in his final 29 apps. after July 18 (23 IP, 6 ER, 11 BB, 20 SO)...Was not on the Astros ALDS roster but was added for the ALCS and WS rosters...recorded a 2.70 ERA (1ER/3.1IP) with five strikeouts in four POSTSEASON games.

2020

Made his MLB debut with Houston and became an important member of Houston’s bullpen...made his first-career OPENING DAY roster and spent the entire season in the Astros bullpen, aside from a 10-day IL stint (elbow soreness)...Among AL rookie relievers, ranked ninth in appearances, sixth in ERA and seventh in opponent average (.173)...posted MLB’s sixth-best average exit velocity on batted balls (83 mph)...Was equally effective against both right-handed and left-handed hitters...held lefties to a .532 OPS and a .171 (6x35) batting average...held righties to a .598 OPS and a .175 (7x40) batting average...Began his Major League career with six scoreless relief outings, becoming one of seven pitchers in club history to do so...Made his MLB debut on July 24 vs. SEA with a perfect eighth inning of relief...became the first Astros pitcher to make his MLB debut on Opening Day since Wesley Wright in 2008 at SD...On Aug. 17 vs. COL, earned his first-career save, working around a leadoff walk to Charlie Blackmon with a scoreless ninth inning...Was on the Astros POSTSEASON rosters for all three rounds, but only pitched in the ALDS and ALCS, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (1ER/5.2IP) with four strikeouts in eight games...was scoreless over his first five postseason appearances.