Cole, Taillon picked for MLB All-Star Futures Game

Major League Baseball announced today that prospects Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon, along with Triple-A Indianapolis pitching coach Tom Filer, will represent the Pirates organization at the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 8 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. All three members will represent Team USA, which is being managed by Hall-of-Famer George Brett.

Cole, who won his Double-A debut last night, went 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA (67.0ip/19er) and 69 strikeouts in 13 starts this year with Single-A Bradenton before being promoted to the Curve yesterday. He won each of his last five decisions with the Marauders and ranked fourth in the Florida State League in ERA, third in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched among starters (9.27) and third in batting average against (.217) among starters at the time of his promotion.

Taillon is 4-6 with a 4.10 ERA (74.2ip/34er) and 67 strikeouts in 14 starts, including one complete game, this year for Bradenton. In his first start of the second half of the season Tuesday he allowed one hit over 7.0 shutout innings while winning a 7-0 decision against St. Lucie. Coming into today Taillon ranks tied for seventh among all Florida State League pitchers in strikeouts.

Filer is in his third season with the Pirates organization, including his second straight with Indianapolis. This year Filer’s Indianapolis pitching staff has produced a league-leading 2.97 ERA (654.1ip/216er) and nine shutouts.