Taylor Buchholz

2013

There was no outlook written for Taylor Buchholz.

2010

After finishing 2008 with a 2.17 ERA in 63 appearances, Buchholz never got his feet off the ground, and was unable to pitch at all in 2009 due to lingering shoulder issues and a sprained elbow ligament. He was on track to return in July, but his rehabilitation hit a snag as he suffered a setback in June, and he eventually had season-ending Tommy John surgery that will keep him off the field until this summer. He remains a dark horse to take over closing if Huston Street should falter, but first he will have to rehab his way back into the majors and prove that he's healthy.

2009

Buchholz became the set-up man when Manny Corpas' early-season implosion shuffled the bullpen roles, then was shut down with a right shoulder strain (no damage) in September. With 2008 closer Brian Fuentes gone, Buchholz will compete with Corpas to save games in '09. The injury is not expected to affect him this year.

2008

Buchholz spent the start of the season trying to find a role on the pitching staff. After a few ineffective spot starts Buchholz settled into a long-relief role. He flourished in the second half posting a 3.48 ERA in 33.2 innings. He will fill the same role in 2008. He exhibits good control walking only 20 in 93.2 total innings, but the 61 strikeouts are nothing to write home about.

2007

Buchholz went 6-10 with a 5.89 ERA in 22 appearances -- 19 starts -- in his rookie year with the Astros last season. He surrendered 21 home runs in 113 innings and walked 34, so he'll have to work a bit on his command in the strike zone. With the Rockies, he could round out the rotation, and would be a long-middle reliever at worst.

2006

Buchholz came back quickly from '04 shoulder surgery, maybe too quickly, as he was shut down in June and then faded a bit down the stretch. A strong AFL performance was encouraging, and makes him a candidate for low-leverage innings in Houston this year. You'd rather have him in '07.

2005

After being traded to Houston in the Billy Wagner deal, Bucholz struggled in his stint with Triple-A New Orleans. Buckholz just turned 23 in Oct 2004, so the learning curve is still in process for the young righty. Expect Bucholz to spend another year in the minors, starting the season in either Double-A Round Rock or Triple-A New Orleans.

2004

Buchholz arrived in the Billy Wagner trade from the Phillies, and immediately became among the better prospects in the Astros' organization. This is less of an endorsement of Buchholz than it is an indictment of the Astros' farm system, as Buchholz at best was the Phillies third-best pitching prospect. Buchholz features a big-breaking curveball, solid control, and an ability to keep the ball in the park. He's targeted to arrive perhaps as early as September.

2003