As a Junior (2016)
>>> SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week (April 25)
Was the Arkansas’ primary Friday night starter, making 13 starts in 15 appearances … Posted a 5-5 record with a 5.75 ERA over 72.0 innings pitched … Ranked second on the team with 61 strikeouts … Issued just 26 walks, a new season-low over 40 innings pitched or more … Threw a complete 10-inning shutout against Kentucky (April 22) en route to earning SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week … It marked the first complete game shutout of his career and the first by a Razorback since Keaton McKinney in 2015 … The 10-inning performance included only five hits allowed, no walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts … The outing was the longest by any pitcher in the NCAA in 2016 and the longest for a Razorback since Clint Brannon threw 11 complete innings at the 2004 SEC Tournament … Was the series-opening starter in all 13 of his starts … Was named the Opening Day starter for the series against Central Michigan (Feb. 19) and went 7.0 innings, giving up just one earned run on one hit in the 6-1 victory … In three of his first four starts, he tallied five or more strikeouts with nine coming against Western Illinois (March 11) … Two of five wins came in SEC play vs. No. 12 Kentucky (April 22) and No. 2 Texas A&M (April 30) in back-to-back starts … Against the Aggies, he battled through 6.0 innings with six strikeouts … Came out of the bullpen twice during the season, going 1.1 innings vs. Memphis (April 6) and 3.2 innings vs. No. 14 Ole Miss (April 10) … Named to SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll.
As a Sophomore (2015)
Entered the starting rotation and tied for second on the team with six wins, posting a 6-4 record and 4.32 ERA with two saves … Season was cut short due to a blood clot in his throwing arm … Tallied 67 strikeouts in 77.0 innings of work … Earned his first victory in the second game of the year, working 6.0 innings against North Dakota (Feb. 14) and allowing two earned runs on four hits, while striking out eight … Recorded a career-high nine strikeouts against Loyola Marymount (March 7), lasting 7.0 innings and allowing five hits … Earned saves against Tennessee (May 10) in 2.1 innings of work and at Creighton (May 12) in 2.2 innings with two strikeouts … Named to SEC Spring Acdemic Honor Roll.
As a Freshman (2014)
Appeared in 17 games and made three starts, posting a 2-0 record and 4.94 earned run average … Recorded 20 strikeouts in 31.0 innings of work and held opponents to a .240 batting average … Earned his first win against Northwestern State (April 23), working 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts … Picked up a win over Missouri State (April 29) in 2.0 hitless innings with two strikeouts … Had a stellar outing in relief against No. 3 Virginia (May 31) in the NCAA Charlottesville Regional, working a season-long 4.2 innings and allowing just two hits, while striking out four.
I.H. Kempner High School
Earned All-District honors as a senior after going 6-2 on the mound and hitting .390 with eight home runs at the plate … Played for Team USA 18U National Team in the fall and helped the team to the gold medal in the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship … Earned all-state honors as a junior and was named first team all-greater Houston … Named all-district as a sophomore … Posted a 9-1 record with a 0.58 ERA and 101 strikeouts as a junior … Also hit .323 with five home runs and 34 RBI in his junior season … Also played football in high school.
In the Draft
2016- Toronto Blue Jays, 16th round (492 overall)
Personal
Son of Robert and Rose Taccolini … Has two brothers, Andy and Tony … Petroleum geology major.
