Swap-outs for Miles Mikolas in the St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher roster
St. Louis Cardinals' Curtis Taylor Shines in Minor Leagues, Eyes Major League Debut
Curtis Taylor, a 30-year-old right-handed pitcher, has been making waves in the minor leagues this season, catching the attention of the St. Louis Cardinals. Signed to a minor-league deal during the winter, Taylor's arrival was one of the few notable moves for the Cardinals, who had a relatively quiet offseason.
Taylor, who stands at six feet six inches tall and weighs 235 pounds, has been a consistent performer in the minor leagues. Drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016, Taylor demonstrated promise early on, increasing his fastball velocity to 96 mph while pitching at the University of British Columbia.
Taylor's career timeline is marked by steady progression through the minor leagues. He began his professional journey with the Hillsboro Hops, a Short-Season A League affiliate of the Diamondbacks, where he pitched 16.1 innings in relief, recording one win and three saves. Taylor then advanced to the Kane County Cougars, where he transitioned into a starting role, recording a 3–4 win-loss record with a 3.32 ERA in 13 starts.
Over the past eight seasons, Taylor has played for several teams associated with at least six MLB organizations, including the Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and most recently, the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. In the 2025 season, Taylor has been particularly impressive, recording a 7-3 win-loss record with a 3.06 ERA.
Taylor's success this year suggests he still has potential as a pitcher. In his latest start against the Durham Bulls on Wednesday night, he went seven innings, allowing only one run, walking two, and striking out. His impressive strikeout ratio this season stands at 91 batters in 103 innings, a testament to his dominance on the mound.
Despite not being a traditional prospect at 30 years old, Taylor's high strikeout rates this season warrant a promotion. The Cardinals, known for their penchant for signing minor-league players, may be considering Taylor for a major league call-up in the near future. With Taylor currently on a similar schedule to Miles Mikolas, whose next scheduled start is Monday, the stage could be set for Taylor to make his major league debut.
References:
- MLB.com
- Baseball-Reference.com
- The Athletic
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch
- MLB Prospect Watch
Taylor, with an eye on a Major League debut, is hoping to join the St. Louis Cardinals from the minor leagues, where he has been impressing with his baseball skills. Despite having played for several teams in various MLB organizations over the past eight seasons, Taylor remains unfazed, continuing to demonstrate his potential as a pitcher in the Minor League Baseball (MiLB).
