Chris Taylor has morphed from pleasant surprise this season to an expected and key contributor for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In addition to learning how to play the outfield, Taylor has cemented himself as a potent hitter and an answer in the leadoff spot.
Over parts of the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, he appeared in a total of 84 games. Taylor played in two games for the Mariners in 2016, and 34 after getting traded to the Dodgers for former first-round pick Zach Lee.
Taylor has already appeared in 99 games this season, making 87 starts. He’s taken full advantage of the opportunity, batting .307/.377/.549 with 27 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs and 56 RBI.
He leads the Dodgers in triples, ranks second in doubles, third in RBI, fourth in on-base plus slugging percentage (.927) and tied for fourth in RBI.
“He’s a spark,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said of the super-utility player. “In the outfield, what he’s done and continues to get better, I almost want to say elite. He helps put us in good spots.”
It’s no accident Taylor’s career season has come on the heels of reinventing his swing, with some aid from Justin Turner. “You see he made some swing adjustments in the offseason and he’s just in a good spot to hit every time,” Turner said. “He’s fun to watch.
“He reminds me a lot of myself, being able to get into the big leagues and put together quality at-bats but not necessarily doing the damage you want to do. You make a few adjustments to your swing, next thing you know the ball is jumping off your bat and you’re doing damage all over the field.”
Taylor has endured minor slumps throughout the year but each time pulled himself out of it rather seamlessly. On a team with the likes of Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig and Turner, Taylor at times flies under the radar.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is no longer surprised by the production from the 26-year-old, but is intrigued by what can be expected from the later bloomer. “It’s one of those things where until you’ve done it, you really don’t know what you have,” Roberts said.
“So, where’s his floor? We don’t know. What’s his ceiling? Each night he’s trying to help us win a baseball game. I can’t sit here right now and say where his ceiling or floor are.”
