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Posted By: Shannon

Hes actually from the town I grew up and still live. In highschool he was a man among boys. Im kinda surprised he was like that. I never heard anything bad about him. Money does change people though. One more thing, after he finished highschool he had broke the natinal highschool records for homeruns and rbis in a career. You can also add Brien Taylor to the list. Brien Taylor
From BR Bullpen
Brien Taylor

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 4", Weight 195 to 215 lb.
Born December 26, 1971
1st overall selection - 1991 Amateur Draft












[edit]Click on edit above to add more biographical information
Pitcher Brien Taylor was selected by the New York Yankees with the first overall pick in the 1991 amateur draft. He signed with the Yankees for an unprecedented $1.55 million. He is one of two top picks to never reach the major leagues (Steve Chilcott is the other). In high school he had fanned 476 batters in 239 innings, going 29-6 with a 1.25 ERA.

It took quite a bit of time for Taylor and the Yankees to come to terms on a contract, costing the southpaw his '91 season. In 1992 he made his debut in high class A with the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees, going 6-8 with a 2.57 ERA, 187 Ks and just 121 hits allowed in 161 innings. Florida State League managers voted him the #2 prospect in the league behind Carlos Delgado and he led the circuit in strikeouts (and balks, with 10). He made the league's All-Star team too.

In 1993 he was promoted to AA, with the Albany-Colonie Yankees and went 13-7 with a 3.48 ERA. He allowed 127 hits in 163 innings; his strikeouts fell to 150 though and his walks rose to 102. He failed to lead the Eastern League in Ks, though he was first in walks. He also was fourth in ERA and tied for second in wins, though. Eastern League managers voted him the fourth best prospect (behind Cliff Floyd, Manny Ramirez and Rondell White) and the top pitching prospect.

Things went south after the '93 season. Taylor got involved in a bar fight with his brother and a former friend and hurt his left shoulder. He needed surgery and never reattained his velocity. He missed the '94 season, was 2-5 while playing rookie-league ball in the 1995 Gulf Coast League (2-5, 6.08, 29 H in 40 IP, 38 K, 54 BB).

Taylor returned to A ball in 1996 with the Greensboro Bats. He was toasted even worse - 43 walks in 16 innings, 21 hits allowed, 11 Ks and an 0-5 record with an 18.73 ERA in 9 starts. In '97, he returned to the Bats and was 1-4 with a 14.33 ERA, walking 52 in 27 innings, allowing 31 hits and 20 strikeouts.

The Yankees released Taylor. He signed with the Seattle Mariners but was released after spring training. He wound up with the Cleveland Indians but surrendered 8 runs in 2 and 2/3 innings, worse than even his two prior South Atlantic League stints. He would not pitch professionally again.

A brilliant promise had been washed away due to off-the-field misconduct.