Cubs toast – Jameson Taillon, a cancer survivor who had multiple Tommy John surgeries, reached 10 years of service time as a major leaguer on Monday. The Cubs marked the milestone with a toast at a small establishment near the team’s hotel, and teammates praised the pitche
PITTSBURGH — The Cubs had plenty to celebrate on Monday, even if the atmosphere around them has still been shaped by losses.
Right-hander Jameson Taillon, a cancer survivor who had multiple Tommy John surgeries when that was relatively rare, reached 10 years of service time as a major-leaguer on Monday. Shortstop Dansby Swanson said Tuesday that seeing Taillon make it to the milestone was “so cool.”
“Seeing Jamo reach it is so cool because you see the adversity that was thrown his way,” Swanson said. “And for him to still come out on top and be like a light in our clubhouse, somebody that constantly brings energy to the group and all the laughter, is just so cool.”
The Cubs took Taillon to a small establishment next to the team’s hotel on Monday night to toast the accomplishment. A spokesman for the Major League Baseball Players Association estimated that roughly 1,700 players in big-league history have achieved the milestone.
Taillon said “Ian Happ said a few nice things,” and he thanked the teammates who helped make the moment feel personal.
“Thoughtful of him. And Nico [Hoerner] and Dansby — we all played together longer. Really blessed to share a locker room with those guys. Our wives are all friends, and they’re all just super-thoughtful and made it really special,” Taillon said.
This season, Taillon is one of five Cubs players scheduled to observe their 10-year service anniversary. The other four are third baseman Alex Bregman, shortstop Swanson, outfielder Michael Conforto and left-hander Matthew Boyd. Conforto and Boyd, along with Bregman and Swanson, are scheduled to cross that threshold in July.
Taillon reflected on what the number means in baseball, describing 10 years as “the gold standard.”
“Just in general, I think that’s the gold standard, 10 years. You probably have [a number of] superstars who are going to play 10 years, no matter what. And you had some people who really had to work for it. and I’m proud to say I’ve had to work for it and nothing’s really come easy to me. I’ve been through a lot. and I feel like I built something that kept me available and on the field through my process and discipline and work ethic and being a good teammate. Reflecting on all that, I’m proud of a lot,” Taillon said.
“Obviously, it’s not the sexiest career of all time, but maybe there are a lot of people that would be happy and proud to have a career like mine. I’ve posted, I’ve pitched, I’ve been available, I’ve thrown a lot of innings, and I’m proud of that.”
Bregman said the milestone carries more than symbolic weight.
“It means a lot. It means that you’ve been in the league for a long time. [that] you’ve been consistent enough to stick around against the best of the best. ” Bregman said. “Obviously, you get full pension after 10 years. But for me, this game has never been about finances. It’s always been about trying to be the best player in the world. It flew by. Honestly, I feel like yesterday I was in this locker room in Pittsburgh for the first time in 2016.”.
Boyd called reaching 10 years a goal he only truly understood once he was living it.
“Early on in your career, you see guys who did it for 10 years [and] kind of understand that’s the goal. To stick around for that amount of time is a huge accomplishment. You don’t really understand all the things you’ve got to go through to get there,” Boyd said.
“Everybody’s journey to it is different. Some guys breeze through it; some guys have to scrap for every day. For me. I had a big injury in the middle of my career. had some good years. had some bad years. had some times where I felt like I’d be playing this game for as long as I wanted to. other times thinking. ‘How do I get there?’ So for me. it’s a huge deal. and we were excited to celebrate [for Taillon].”.
When Boyd looked at how much baseball has changed, he said it still felt fast.
“When I think about how much the game has changed over the course of my time, it feels like it’s been a long time. . . . But when I think back to when I got called up, it feels like yesterday. And I think of all the people who helped get me here,” Boyd said.
Swanson tied the moment to the long climb behind it.
“It’s just a testament to the hard work, the perseverance, the toughness, the gratitude, the joy and the ability. There are so many things that have to go right in order for it to happen. It really is like a blessing, right?” Swanson said.
“Like, when you’re young, you are almost naive to the fact that it’s difficult to do. Then when you’re in it, you realize how difficult it is. Then when you get to it. there’s nothing but gratitude for the help. the support. the work. the inspirations. the family members. So many things to be grateful for.”.
On Monday night, that gratitude had a physical form: a toast, a small gathering next to the team’s hotel, and teammates treating a service-time number as something earned the hard way.
Jameson Taillon Cubs service time 10 years cancer survivor Tommy John surgery Dansby Swanson Ian Happ Nico Hoerner Alex Bregman Michael Conforto Matthew Boyd