Having established himself as a key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series core for his defensive flexibility and offensive resurgence, Chris Taylor entered the 2018 season looking for similar success on both sides of the ball.
While the 28-year-old has continued to provide versatility on the field, he has taken a bit of a step back at the plate following a breakout campaign in 2017.
In 136 games, Taylor is hitting .248/.324/.439 (104 OPS+) with 55 extra-base hits and a National League-high 162 strikeouts — already 20 more than a year ago in far less plate appearances.
Taylor has especially struggled in the second half, as evidenced by his .236/.306/.400 batting line in 157 trips to the plate. That’s compared to a much better .253/.332/.454 showing in the first half.
In the midst of troubling times, Taylor revealed that he has been working with hitting coaches Brant Brown and Turner Ward in order to improve his mechanics and replicate his swing from 2017 , per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Taylor said he has been working with hitting coaches Turner Ward and Brant Brown to try and rediscover the proper swing as well as a better approach. “I think mechanically I’m trying to get closer to where I was last year,” Taylor said, though he has lowered his hands in his setup.
Despite his overall struggles this season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is nevertheless encouraged with Taylor’s recent at-bats over the last week of play.
Taylor drew two starts over the weekend in the Dodgers’ three-game matchup with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, where he went 3-for-7 with one double, one home run and three RBI.
While Taylor has seen his playing time diminish as of late, he has found success in the early going of September. In six games, he’s recorded five hits in 10 at-bats while reaching base an additional two times via walk.
