Taylor Widener

Taylor Widener
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-10-24) October 24, 1994 (age 30)
Aiken, South Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 25, 2020, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
KBO: May 30, 2023, for the NC Dinos
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record2–3
Earned run average4.26
Strikeouts109
KBO statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record7–5
Earned run average4.54
Strikeouts99
Teams

Taylor Browning Widener (born October 24, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos and Samsung Lions.

Career

Amateur career

Widener attended South Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina and played college baseball at the University of South Carolina.[1] He was both a starter and relief pitcher at South Carolina. After his junior season, he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 12th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[2]

New York Yankees

Widener made his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees and was promoted to the Charleston RiverDogs after not allowing a run over 15+1⁄3 innings with Staten Island.[3][4] He finished 2016 with a combined 3–0 record and a 0.47 ERA in 38+1⁄3 innings pitched between both clubs. Widener spent 2017 with the Tampa Yankees where he posted a 7–8 record with a 3.39 ERA in 27 starts.[5]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On February 18, 2018, the Yankees sent Widener to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade, in which the Yankees acquired Brandon Drury from the Diamondbacks, the Diamondbacks acquired Steven Souza from the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Rays acquired Nick Solak from the Yankees and Anthony Banda and two PTBNL (Colin Poche and Sam McWilliams) from the Diamondbacks.[6] Widener spent 2018 with the Jackson Generals, pitching to a 5–8 record with a 2.75 ERA in 26 games (25 starts).[7] He was a Southern League Mid-Season All-Star and named to Baseball America's Double-A All-Star team.[8][9] The Diamondbacks named him their Pitcher of the Year.[10] Before the 2019 season, MLB.com ranked him as the third best prospect in the Diamondbacks system.[11] He spent the year with the Triple-A Reno Aces, going 6–7 with an 8.10 ERA over 23 starts, striking out 109 over 100 innings.

Widener was added to the Diamondbacks 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[12] Following the delay of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was included on the 30-man roster when the season started in July.[13] Widener made his major league debut on July 25 against the San Diego Padres, pitching 1+2⁄3 scoreless innings.[14] On August 31, Widener was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained rib cage. He returned from the injury on September 20.[15] On the season, he was 0–1 in 12 games with 22 strikeouts in 20 innings, he also allowed 12 walks.

Widener started the 2021 season in the Diamondbacks starting rotation.[16] On April 28, he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a groin strain.[17] He returned to the team on May 23, but was put back on the injured list with another groin strain just two days later.[18][19] He was reinstated on July 9, then optioned the following day before returning on July 20.[20][21] He missed time in August with flu-like symptoms.[22] After pitching to a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts, Widener was moved to the bullpen in September to manage his workload.[23] On the season, Widener made 23 appearances for Arizona, posting a 4.35 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 70+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Widener began the 2022 season in Triple-A after he was optioned on April 2.[24] Widener was recalled on April 24 and sent back to the minors on May 2.[25][26] He returned on June 3 but was again optioned four days later.[27][28] The Diamondbacks against recalled him on August 1, then optioned him two days later, before returning on September 8.[29][30] Overall, he pitched in 14 games with the big league club, recording a 3.63 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 17+1⁄3 innings out of the bullpen. He was designated for assignment on December 23, 2022.[31] On January 5, 2023, Widener was sent outright to Triple-A Reno.[32]

NC Dinos

On January 31, 2023, Widener signed a one-year contract worth $743,000 with the NC Dinos of the KBO League.[33] In 11 starts, he registered a 4–2 record and 4.52 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 61+2⁄3 innings pitched. On August 4, Widener was released by the Dinos.[34]

Samsung Lions

On August 10, 2023, Widener signed with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League.[35] He became a free agent following the season.

Atlanta Braves

On December 11, 2023, Widener signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[36][37] In 22 appearances (11 starts) for the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, he posted a 3–5 record and 6.51 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 56+2⁄3 innings pitched. Widener was released by the Braves organization on August 1, 2024.[38]

References

  1. ^ Feathers, Brian Hand Spurs and (June 9, 2016). "Former South Aiken star focused on making it to Omaha". Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  2. ^ Feathers, BRIAN HAND Spurs and (June 10, 2016). "Widener goes to Yankees in baseball draft". Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Raynor, Grace (July 29, 2016). "RiverDogs call up former USC star Widener". Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  4. ^ "Former Gamecock called up to RiverDogs". July 31, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  5. ^ "Taylor Widener Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Steve (May 24, 2018). "D-backs, Yankees, Rays make three-team trade". MLB.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Taylor Widener Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  8. ^ Springs, Tyler (June 16, 2018). "Generals clinch First Half North Division title for second time in three years". Generally Speaking. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Staff, B. A. (September 14, 2018). "2018 Minor League All-Star Team". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Drake, Tyler (September 25, 2018). "Chisholm named D-backs' Player of Year, Widener wins Pitcher of Year". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "Here are the D-backs' 2019 Top 30 Prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "D-backs add Wyatt Mathisen, Riley Smith, Taylor Widener and Andy Young to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Sports, Arizona (July 23, 2020). "Arizona Diamondbacks announce 2020 Opening Day roster". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Padres 5-1 Diamondbacks (Jul 25, 2020) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Newman, Logan (September 20, 2020). "D-backs pitcher Taylor Widener activated from 10-day injured list". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Taylor Widener set to start 2021 season in Diamondbacks rotation". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Widener, Calhoun latest D-backs to go on IL". MLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Sports, Arizona (May 23, 2021). "Diamondbacks activate SP Taylor Widener, option Josh VanMeter". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "D-backs recall Jon Duplantier from Triple-A Reno; place Taylor Widener on 10-day injured list". MLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ^ Sports, Arizona (July 10, 2021). "D-backs reinstate pitcher Taylor Widener, make 3 other roster moves". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Soto, Johnny (July 20, 2021). "D-backs recall pitcher Taylor Widener, option Alex Young to Reno". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  22. ^ Sports, Arizona (August 17, 2021). "D-backs reinstate Taylor Widener from IL, option Poppen to Triple-A Reno". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Widener moves to 'pen to manage workload". MLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  24. ^ Anderson, Jake (April 2, 2022). "D-backs option pitchers Tyler Gilbert, Taylor Widener to Triple-A Reno". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  25. ^ Weiner, Alex (April 24, 2022). "D-backs P Humberto Castellanos to Paternity List, Taylor Widener recalled". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  26. ^ Rice, Wills (May 2, 2022). "D-backs option P Taylor Widener to Triple-A Reno; Matt Davidson DFA'd". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Sports, Arizona (June 3, 2022). "Arizona Diamondbacks recall RHP Taylor Widener from taxi squad". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  28. ^ "Diamondbacks' Taylor Widener: Sent down Tuesday". CBSSports.com. June 7, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  30. ^ Weiner, Alex (September 9, 2022). "D-backs option rookie LHP Tommy Henry, recall RHP Taylor Widener". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  31. ^ "Diamondbacks Acquire Diego Castillo, Designate Taylor Widener". MLB Trade Rumors. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  32. ^ "Outrights: William Woods, Ali Sanchez, Taylor Widener, Jake Reed". yardbarker.com. January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  33. ^ "NC Dinos sign pitcher Taylor Widener on one-year, $743,000 deal". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. January 31, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  34. ^ "NC Dinos sign new pitcher Tanner Tully". m-en.yna.co.kr. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  35. ^ "Samsung Lions release injured pitcher Suarez, sign ex-Dino Widener". The Korea Times. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  36. ^ "Braves' Taylor Widener: Gets minors contract from ATL". cbssports.com. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  37. ^ "Stripers Report". Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  38. ^ "Transactions".