CHICAGO – As the season enters a pivotal phase where each pitch can determine the fate of the team, bad news hits the Chicago Cubs training camp: Jameson Taillon, the veteran starting pitcher, has suffered a serious calf injury, forcing him to miss at least six to eight weeks.
A seemingly harmless slip during warmups silenced the practice field. But it was the way Taillon left the field, bowing his head, brushing his cap, and looking into the distance… that made his teammates understand: he knew he would be absent for the team’s survival period.
According to the official report from the Cubs medical team, Taillon has torn his right calf muscle, an injury that requires rigorous rehabilitation. What’s worse: he had tried to suppress the pain in previous practices, and the price he paid was not being able to pitch another game before the trade deadline.
“I feel like I’m letting my guys down,” Taillon choked up during a closed-door meeting with the coaching staff.
“I should have said it sooner, I know… but I think I can handle it.”
Taillon isn’t the flashiest name, nor is he the Cubs’ number one ace. But he’s been the one quietly holding up the rotation as Steele, Assad, and Wicks have all been injured. Now, as the Cubs enter their 12-game death streak before the deadline, Taillon’s name will no longer be on the roster.
“I heard the guys laughing in the bullpen today. And I just sat in the treatment room, silent.”
“I’m 33 years old, I don’t know how many more seasons I have. But this season, I missed it.”
Throughout the season, Taillon has been considered a “psychological milestone” for young pitchers. He’s the one who stands outside the dugout, analyzing every pitch, correcting every little mistake by Wicks or Brown. He was the one who always patted his teammates on the back after every missed shot. Now his room in the clubhouse is closed and cold.
Craig Counsell (Head Coach) shared:
“We didn’t just lose a good arm, we lost the heart of the locker room.”