Now making a mark for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a super-utility man, Chris Taylor is set to be honored in January as he was named among the six players for the University of Virginia Baseball 2020 Hall of Fame class.
Along with Taylor (2010-12), the 2020 inductees include Kevin Arico (2008-10), Tyler Cannon (2007-10), Ryan Gilleland (1995-98), Nick Howard (2012-14) and Jarrett Parker (2008-10). They will join the likes of Brian Buchanan, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Zimmerman, among others.
Established in the summer of 2017, the Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame has enshrined a total of 22 players over the past two years, including a 15-member inaugural class. The 2020 inductees will be inducted during a private ceremony in January.
In order to be considered for hall of fame induction, former student-athletes needed to be five years removed from exhaustion of college eligibility.
Players and coaches were selected based on accolades earned while at Virginia, distinguishing careers in amateur or professional baseball and/or significant contributions through work or service made to the university.
Chesdin gives us the final member of the 2020 HOF class..
🔷 Walk-off 1B in 2011 Super Regional
🔶 Led ACC in runs in 2011
🔷 Currently plays for @Dodgers
🔶 2017 NLCS co-MVPCongratulations Chris Taylor!#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/kT0hbjKiDl
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) October 24, 2019
“The Hall of Fame announcement has become a proud and exciting day for our program over the past three years,” head coach Brian O’Connor said.
“The 22 men we have inducted in the Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame are excellent representations of the Virginia Baseball program and the University of Virginia community and this year’s class continues that standard. Each of the players in this class have been involved in some of the greatest moments in our program’s history, and I’m happy that we are able to celebrate their achievements.
“I also love to see the excitement of our current players to be involved in these announcements, as they recognize the hard work and dedication that each of these men poured into our program. It’s a great day for Virginia Baseball!”
In addition to Taylor, Josh Sborz and Ricky Horton are other former Cavaliers who have played for the Dodgers. Sborz, who was selected by the team in the second round of the 2015 Draft, made his MLB debut this season.
Taylor hit .262/.333/.462 with 29 doubles, 12 home runs and 52 RBI over 124 games this year, most notably cutting down from leading the National League in strikeouts in 2018.
As for his history at Virginia, Taylor had one of the biggest moments in the baseball program’s history by delivering a walk-off single against UC Irvine in the 2011 NCAA Super Regional to propel the Cavaliers to their second College World Series.
Taylor batted a career .297 at Virginia, increased that to .400 in postseason play, set the university’s single-season record with 285 at-bats in 2011 when he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and 2011 NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team selection.
