By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network

Curtis Taylor was drafted in the fourth round by Arizona Diamondbacks and scout Doug Mathieson from the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in 2016.

In his first full pro year, Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) started 13 games for the Kane County Cougars going 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA.

Taylor was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Brad Boxberger Nov. 17, 2017. The Rays made Taylor a reliever and now he pitching out of the bullpen for the double-A Montgomery Biscuits. 

All of which means he soon could be back starting again. The Rays have used reliever Sergio Romo to start. Romo appeared in relief in 577 games. On May 19 manager Kevin Cash gave Romo the ball and since then he has started five times -- his longest outing being 1 1/3 innings.
 
Taylor took over with one out in the fifth and Montgomery on the way to a 10-6 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts before 2,616 fans at AT&T Field. He worked 3 2/3 innings allowing one run on two hits, while striking out a pair. Taylor picked up the win. He threw 44 pitches, including an amazing 33 strikes. 

Next, Taylor worked three scoreless as Montgomery fell 6-3 to the Jackson Generals in front of 2,019 fans at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. Taylor did not allow a hit and walked only one, while fanning five in his 50 pitch outing (32 strikes).

BEST  OFFENSIVE  PERFORMANCES
 
Player/Class/Team                            AB      R      H      HR     RBI     AVG
 
Vlad Guerrero - AA New Hampshire    24      6      11      3      11      .458
Dalton Pompey  -  AAA  Buffalo           12      4       5       1       2       .417
Jonathan Lacroix  -  A  Quad Cities      10     2        4       -        -       .400
Jesse Hodges  -  AA  Tennessee          13      3       5       2       4       .385
Raphael Gladu  -  A  Columbia             14      2       5       -        2      .357
Cole Bauml  -  A  Lakeland                   12      1       4        -       1      .333
Louis Boyd  -  A  Modesto                    19      2       6       -        -       .316
Abraham Toro  -  A  Buies Creek          27      6       8       1        5      .296
Jacob Robson  -  AA  Erie                      18      3       5       1        1     .278
 
Josh Williams  -  IND  White Sands      12      5       5       2        4      .421
Mike Crouse  -  MEX  Puebla                24      5       9       3        7      .375
Danny Beaver  -  IND  Santa Fe            28     10      9       1         5      .321
Brad Antchak  -  IND  Quebec               28      5       9       -         5      .321
(Minimum 10 AB’s)
 
BEST  PITCHING  PERFORMANCES
 
CURTIS  TAYLOR    RHP   -    AA   MONTGOMERY  BISCUITS
APP    IP    H    R    ER    BB    K    W-L    SV    WHIP    WK ERA
2     6.2    2    1      1      1      9     1-0      -       0.48        1.45
 
Currently working out of the bullpen for Montgomery, Curtis Taylor made two excellent appearances this week, the first on May 24th in a 10-6 victory over Chattanooga Lookouts when he pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up two base hits and one earned run while striking out four Chattanooga hitters, to earn his first win at the double-A level.  On May 29th in a 6-3 loss to the Jackson Generals he threw three scoreless, surrendered zero hits, while striking out five Jackson batters, but was no involved in the decision. His record with Montgomery in five Southern League relief appearances, now stands at 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA. 

BROCK  DYKXHOORN    RHP   -   AAA   FRESNO  GRIZZLIES
APP     IP     H    R    ER    BB    K    W-L    SV    WHIP    WK ERA
1      6.0     4    1      1      -       5       -         -      0.67         1.50
 
Just promoted last week by Houston Astros from their double-A affiliate Corpus Christi Hooks to triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) showed in his first start for Fresno that he was ready to make the move.  On May 24th in a 10 inning 4-3 loss to the Reno Aces he pitched six innings, gave up four base hits and one earned run while striking out five Reno hitters, but was not involved in the decision.  His record with the Grizzlies in the Pacific Coast League is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA.
 
CAL  QUANTRILL   RHP   -   AA   SAN  ANTONIO  MISSIONS
 
APP    IP    H    R    ER    BB    K    W-L    SV    WHIP    WK ERA
   1     5.0    5    5      1       2     7    1-0       -       1.40        1.80
 
Cal Quantrill has established himself in San Antonio’s starting rotation, and this week the 23 year old native of Port Hope, Ont., had another very good outing.  On May 29th in an 11-5 win over Tulsa Drillers he pitched five innings, gave up five base hits and one earned run while striking out seven Tulsa hitters, to earn his third win of the season. His overall record with the Missions in the Double A Texas League, now stands at 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA.
 
 
JORDAN  ROMANO   RHP   -    AAA   BUFFALO  BISONS
 
APP     IP     H     R    ER     BB     K     W-L    SV   WHIP  WK ERA
   1      5.0     4      2     2       4       3      1-0      -       1.60     3.60
 
Called up from New Hampshire this week by the Toronto Blue Jays, to make an emergency start for their triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons, Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) showed he’s surely ready for a permanent promotion in the near future.  On May 27th in an 11-2 win over Rochester Red Wings he threw five innings, gave up four base hits and two earned runs while striking out three Rochester batters, to earn his first win at the triple-A level. After the game he was moved back to the Fisher Cats.

Canadian Baseball Network Players of the Week

Week 1 _ OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Memphis (Cards) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) San Antonio (Padres).
Week II _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) New Hampshire (Blue Jays).
Week III _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Gwinett (Braves).
Week IV _ RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) Corpus Christi (Astros).
Week V _ Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).

Week VI _ Phillippe Aumont (Hull, Que.) Toledo (Tigers)
Week VII _ Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).
Week VIII _ Curtis Taylor (Coquitlam, BC) Montgomery (Rays)