Draft Update: Sources: Pomeranz ruled out; Pirates wavering decision at No. 2

By John Perrotto

The Pirates are wavering in their decision on who to take with the second pick in tonight's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

The Pirates are now giving strong consideration to selecting right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon from The Woodlands High School in suburban Houston.

For weeks, it appeared the Pirates were set on taking Manny Machado, a shortstop from Brito Private School in Hialeah, Fla., a suburb of Miami.

College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper is expected to go to the Washington Nationals with the first pick.

"They're really torn on what they're going to do," said a source with close knowledge of the Pirates' thinking on Monday afternoon. "It still might be Machado but it's no longer a certainty. They're really wrestling with the decision."

Taillon stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 225 pounds. The 18-year-old has a fastball that has been clocked as high as 99 mph and been compared to Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett, though with a more even temperament.

Taillon was 8-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 11 games this season. In 62 innings, he allowed 42 hits while walking 21 and striking out 114.

Taillon's fastball usually sits in the 93-97 range and he also has a big-breaking curveball. He occasionally mixes in a hard slider and changeup, a pitch scouts feel needs the most improvement.