Around the Curve | Curve in the Majors - Vol. 7

CURVE, PA. – Altoona has been a pipeline to the Major Leagues for nearly 26 years, with the current alumni count at 215 players achieving their dreams of becoming a big leaguer. This season, we want to look at some of the exciting accomplishments our alumni are achieving at the Major League level. Every week, we will spotlight a handful of players who are succeeding at the next level and reflect on their time with the Curve, here on the Around the Curve Blog! Here is the seventh edition of: “Curve in the Majors.”

1. OF- Andrew McCutchen- Pittsburgh Pirates

Season Stats: .226, 81 games, 12 HRs, 25 RBIs

Deep within his 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, production has yet to be worn down with McCutchen's age, as his ability to hit the long ball all around the diamond has yet to dull. This season McCutchen is currently sitting third in the Pirates roster for the most home runs, only being six shy of the lead held by Bryan Reynolds with 18. Outside of that, he’s also leading the team in runs scored (47) and walks (41).

McCutchen played 138 games for the Curve from 2006-2007, and to this day he is still the youngest player to take the field for Altoona, making his Double-A debut on August 15, 2006, at just 19 years old. The 11th overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft played in the final 20 games of the 2006 season en route to being named the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year. When he returned in 2007, he was the Pirates No. 1 prospect per Baseball America, but his numbers cooled off. He finished his Curve tenure with a .265 batting average, 13 home runs, and 60 RBIs in 138 games.

2. RHP - Jameson Taillon- Chicago Cubs

Season Stats: 7-4 , 3.10 ERA, 16 Games (16 Starts) 93.0 IP, 18 BB, 75 K

This season, Taillon has been a regular contributor for the Cubs. Within his three starts in the month of July, he’s earned three wins and hasn’t allowed more than 3 runs with 17 total strikeouts. Overall, Taillon has struck out a combined 75 batters in 93.0 innings allowing 32 earned runs on 90 hits.

Taillon appeared 24 times in a Curve uniform, starting a total of 23 times. During his time in Altoona, Taillon pitched just over a total of 130 innings, averaging a strikeout per inning. Outside of those impressive stats, he was also named Eastern League Pitcher of The Week during the second week of August in 2012 and Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star in 2013.

3. INF- Nick Gonzales- Pittsburgh Pirates

Season Stats: .265, 57 games, 5 HRs, 35 RBIs

Nick Gonzales has shown himself to be one of the bright spots in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup. Since being recalled in early May, he’s been a hot hitter, hitting .265 to match it. He’s been able to add 12 doubles, two triples, and five home runs to the Pirates lineup in that span as well.

With the Curve, Gonzales showed much of his potential early on. During the 2022 season, he hit a consistent .263 batting average, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs. This impressive performance helped him stand out in an already stacked lineup of future Pittsburgh Pirates, such as Endy Rodriguez, Jack Suwinski, and Jared Triolo.

4. RHP - Clay Holmes- New York Yankees

Season Stats: 1-4 2.77 ERA, 40 Games, 39.0 IP, 10 BB, 41 K

Clay Holmes was one of the American League’s best relief arms to begin the season. In his first 30 appearances, he allowed just four earned runs and 28 hits in 29.1 innings pitched. However, he was not at his sharpest as he went into the break, allowing 11 hits and eight runs in his last 6.2 innings since June 13. He was voted into his second career All-Star game in Arlington this week.

Holmes pitched for the Curve primarily in 2016 where he was used as a starter, making 26 starts and finishing the season 10-9 with a 4.22 ERA in 136.1 IP. He returned to Altoona on rehab in 2019, throwing in two games in relief.

Other Notes:

• Former Pirates farm hand and Curve Alum RHP Colin Selby has been acquired by the Orioles from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Selby began the season in Triple-A Indianapolis before was claimed off waivers by the Royals. After making two Major League appearances and 18 Triple-A appearances for Kansas City, he now heads to the Orioles system, where he has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.
• Aaron Shortridge has shown great progress in his rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Shortridge, who has been sidelined with an injury since Spring Training, has made five rehab appearances between Low-A and the FCL, accumulating 25 strikeouts in 15.1 innings with only three earned runs allowed.

Stay tuned all season long for more exciting content on the Around the Curve Blog!