Port Coquitlam native Curtis Taylor has taken another step toward his Major League Baseball debut, as he has been assigned to the Memphis Redbirds, the top minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Taylor, a 29-year-old right-handed reliever, signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals on February 10, initially joining their AA Springfield roster. However, after being placed on the restricted list, he was unable to play until recently.
The Canadian pitcher made a brief spring training appearance on March 1, facing a batter in a matchup between the Cardinals and Washington Nationals. Now part of St. Louis’ AAA system, Taylor is closer than ever to a potential MLB call-up.
A Well-Traveled Career
Taylor’s baseball journey has seen him play for seven different MLB organizations, though he has yet to appear in a big-league regular season game. He has previously spent time in the AAA systems of the Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs. Over the last two seasons, he continued his career in Mexico, pitching in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.
The former Coquitlam Little League and Coquitlam Reds standout honed his skills at the University of British Columbia before being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Throughout his career, he has played for 16 different teams, including representing Team Canada at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Now with the Memphis Redbirds, Taylor has another opportunity to showcase his talent and push for a long-awaited MLB debut.
