With Logan Forsythe expected to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a toe fracture and hamstring tightness, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently said Chris Taylor would see an increase in playing time.
To this point, Taylor and Chase Utley have platooned at second base in Forsythe’s absence. But Utley has struggled at the plate, while Taylor has been among the Dodgers’ better contributors. Such was the case again Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With the Dodgers already out to a 1-0 lead, Taylor hit a grand slam off Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams:
L̶i̶f̶e̶ Chris Taylor comes at you fast. ? pic.twitter.com/j5rfAYkMtV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2017
“It was 0-2, I was just trying to shorten up and put a ball in play,” Taylor said of his second career grand slam. “He left a slider up and over the plate.”
The home run was Taylor’s fourth of his career. With some instruction and guidance from Justin Turner, Taylor refined his swing during the offseason.
“I think he has the ability to cover more pitches and handle velocity,” Roberts said of the improvement Taylor has made from last season. “For me, the wrap with the swing last year at his set-and-launch position, he couldn’t really handle velocity. I think now with the rhythm in his swing, he’s much more sound mechanically.”
Taylor is batting .395/.521/.684 with two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI in 16 games this season.
