Pirates: Jameson Taillon battling testicular cancer

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that young right-hander Jameson Taillon will be out indefinitely after surgery to treat testicular cancer.

There are times in baseball that we are reminded there is more to the sport than just the 162 games each team must face to complete a season. Where, beyond the wins, the losses, the ERA and batting averages, the people who produce them are more than just players for our entertainment as viewers. On Monday, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon underwent surgery for testicular cancer, according to a team announcement. This is one of those moments.

Taillon, just 25, was originally placed on the 10-day disabled list with what appeared to be groin tightness. However, further inspection revealed that the discomfort was coming from what was later suspected to be testicular cancer. This setback comes as the latest in a series of ailments for the talented right-hander which includes Tommy John surgery, a sports hernia and a line drive off the head.

The former second overall pick was off to a hot start in 2017, anchoring the Pittsburgh rotation alongside ace Gerrit Cole and the latest Ray Searage reclamation project, Ivan Nova. In 35.1 innings this season, Taillon had worked a 3.31 ERA to go along with 30 strikeouts against 13 walks. Taillon has been one of the few bright spots for the Pirates in what has been a trying season with stars Jung Ho Kang and Starling Marte out for significant periods of time due to some personal issues, while Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco are off to slow starts of their own.

Taillon, for what it’s worth, appears confident in light of his ailment, offering a statement via Twitter Monday:

The Pirates organization offered its thoughts and prayers for the young right-hander.

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