Heath Taylor

Brandon Heath Taylor ("Heater")

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 220 lb.
• School Vernon Community College, University of Oklahoma
• High School Bowie High School
• Born May 26, 1986 in Bowie, TX, USA

BR minors page

Family

Heath Taylor has two sisters, Jordan and Macy. Taylor's high school coach, Kelly Shackelford, credits Heath's step-father, Kevin Roth, with instilling a good work ethic and love of the game since his days in T-ball. Heath's mom is Pam Roth.

High School Career and Early Development

Taylor was a three year letter winner and two time All-American at Bowie High School in Bowie, Texas. During his junior year in 2003, his team won the District title, and Heath was named the District Most Valuable Player.

During his senior season, Taylor again earned MVP honors and was named National Co-High School Pitcher of the Year. He struck out 132 batters in just 62 innings pitched with a 1.32 earned run average. At the plate, he had a .596 batting average with eight home runs. A teammate during his senior year was Brandon Workman who threw a no-hitter for the University of Texas in March 2009.

During his high school career, Taylor pitched for various developmental programs including the Dallas Knights and the Burkburnett Blacksox.

College Career

Taylor began his collegiate career with Vernon Community College. As a freshman in 2005, he was named a Texas Junior College All Star and was the Chaparrals Pitcher of the Year.

In the summer of 2006, Taylor pitched for the Kelowna Falcons in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League. In 9 starts, Heath compiled a record of 3-5 with a complete game shutout. In one relief appearance, he earned a save. Taylor finished the short season with a 3.67 earned run average with 51 strike outs in 54 innings pitched. His fieldng was a little less than impressive with a .786 fielding percentage.

For the 2007 season, Taylor had transfered to the University of Oklahoma. Taylor compiled a 9-3 record with a 3.75 earned run average and 80 strike outs in 90 and two-thirds innings pitched. Opposing batters hit .228 off of him. He was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week for the week of February 27. On March 2, he struck out seven batters in 2 and two-thirds innings of relief. Later that same month, Taylor got his first start as a Sooner and struck out 11 as he defeated Michigan State University 7-2. Heath was named to the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award watch list. At the end of the season, he was picked as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. The Fort Worth Star Telegram named him as a second team member.

Taylor was under contract to pitch for the Denton Outlaws of the Texas Collegiate League in the summer of 2007. Less than a week into the season, Taylor was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and let out of his obligation.

Heath majored in kinesiology while in college.

Minor League Career

Taylor was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 2007 Amateur Draft (317th overall). He was signed by scout Kevin Cullen.

Heath spent all of 2007 on the Class A Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the New York-Penn League. He finished the season with a record of 3-3 with a 2.35 earned run average in 57 and a third innings. In 12 starts, he struck out 38, walked 15 and did not give up any home runs. The league's hitters had a .248 batting average off him. In the last outing of the season on September 3, Taylor gave up seven earned runs in 4 and two-thirds innings in a loss to Williamsport. His season ERA would have been 1.37 without that one game.

Taylor was named to the 2007 New York-Penn League All-Star Game. He pitched the fourth inning of the game and gave up one run on a Bill Rhinehart single to left that scored Keanon Simon in a game that the American League affiliates won.

Heath spent the 2008 campaign with three different Cleveland affiliates - the Gulf Coast League Indians, the Scrappers, and the Carolina League Kinston Indians. During the season, he was used exclusively as a reliever. Heath finished up with a combined ERA of 3.76 with a record of 2-2. In 26 and a third innings, he struck out 31, but he also walked 21 while giving up 17 hits for a 1.443 WHIP. During the season, Taylor suffered from a partial tear to his left ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He was placed on the disabled list early in May and did not have to have surgery. He was shutdown and did not start throwing again until July. He got back into games in late August.

Following the season, Taylor spent some time in Arizona in the Fall Instructional League. In October, he played for the North Shore Honu in the Hawaii Winter League where he had a 2.19 earned run average over 12 and a third innings.

For 2009, Taylor has been assigned to the Kinston Indians.

Related Sites

• Heath's MySpace