Hearn Finishes Solid Showing in AFL

SHAWNEE – Former Oklahoma Baptist pitcher Taylor Hearn finished with a respectable showing in the Arizona Fall League.
 
Hearn went 2-0 with a 3.06 earned run average in eight appearances, including four starts. He struck out 14 batters over 17.2 innings for the Glendale Desert Dogs.
 
The Arizona Fall League is a developmental league that has produced Major League talent, including Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. The league is heavily scouted and players sent to the AFL often debut in the majors the following season. Roughly 60 percent of AFL players make it to the Major Leagues.
 
Hearn pitched for the Glendale Desert Dogs along with other Pirates prospects and those from the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
 
Hearn, a 6-6 left-handed pitcher, was drafted in the fifth round by the Washington Nationals in 2015 – the first NAIA player selected that season. While at OBU, he was 9-0 with a 3.50 earned run average, a .191 opponent batting average and 71 strikeouts in 64.1 innings.
 
The Nationals dealt Hearn to the Pirates in 2016. In September, Hearn was assigned to the Pirates short season A affiliate the West Virginia Black Bears.