In his first season with the short-season Single-A Hawks, Talley has shown he belongs, performing as the team's top long reliever this summer. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has logged the most innings of any non-starter (15 innings in seven appearances) and has a 1.20 ERA with only seven hits allowed.
Unheralded leaving Southern Miss after posting a 7-9 record in 30 appearances, including 22 starts, with a 3.15 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 137 innings, Talley felt he needed to impress quickly. With almost nothing invested in him, he felt the leash was short. He had a 7.00 ERA in 36 innings last season in Rookie League Grand Junction (four starts, 12 relief appearances).
"It's a little tougher. When I first came in, I felt like I had to do everything perfect just to get on the radar," Talley said.
After what he felt was a strong showing in extended spring training, Talley showed improvements to the powers that be, and it helped him pitch more relaxed.
At 24 years old, Talley is the eldest player on the team's active roster. Jones said he's been a steady presence, the primary instigator in breaking up the locker room boredom. Talley said he doesn't feel time is running out to move up. He might have an ideal person to look up to in Jones, who played four games for Milwaukee at 25, but didn't return to the majors until he was 29 and wound up making five All-Star teams.