Although Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Chris Taylor plays all over the field, he was ranked as a top-10 second baseman by MLB Network’s The Shredder heading into the 2022 season.
The Shredder focuses on a three-year sample size, with the 2021 season weighted more heavily. Notable statistics it takes into account are WAR and wRC+, while Statcast metrics are also part of the evaluation.
However, defense is not weighted as heavily as it as at more premium defensive positions, such as shortstop and centerfield.
It remains to be seen how much second base Taylor will end up playing this season due to the Dodgers signing Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy moving over. Nevertheless, Taylor was still ranked as the No. 10 second baseman entering the season, behind Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets.
Among the analysts ranking the players, Sarah Langs had Taylor placed the highest as the No. 3 overall second baseman. Mike Petriello and Vince Gennaro both ranked him at No. 9.
Entering 2021, The Shredder ranked Taylor as the No. 8 second baseman.
Last season Taylor hit .254/.344/.438 with 20 home runs, a 113 wRC+ and 3.1 WAR. His overall line was a step back from the 2020, but through the first 102 games of the season Taylor had a career-high 139 wRC+ and he was named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
After that, the star utilityman dealt with a nagging neck injury that he continued to play through. In his final 46 games, Taylor only posted a 46 wRC+.
Once the playoffs came around, Taylor finally appeared to be healthy and hit .351/.419/.784/1.203 while appearing in 11 of the Dodgers’ 12 games.
Although Taylor was ranked as a second baseman, he has played nearly 100 more innings in center field. Taylor also has only appeared at second base for one inning since the Dodgers traded for Trea Turner.
MLB Network ranks players based on what position they are expected to play, and without Freeman or any additional players on the roster right now, Taylor is likely the primary second baseman at this point.
But wherever Taylor ends up playing, the Dodgers are all aware of the value he brings to the club.
“C.T.’s been amazing. All year he’s just been a grinder, man. He just is a baller,” Mookie Betts said during the National League Championship Series.
“It doesn’t matter how he’s feeling, he’s going to go and play no matter if he’s hurt, anything. So C.T.’s obviously someone that is kind of like an unsung hero.
“Everybody needs a C.T. on their team.”
The Shredder 2022 rankings: second basemen
| Rank | The Shredder | Mike Petriello | Sarah Langs | Vince Gennaro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) | Marcus Semien (Rangers) | Marcus Semien (Rangers) | Marcus Semien (Rangers) |
| 2 | Marcus Semien (Rangers) | Jose Altuve (Astros) | Jose Altuve (Astros) | Ozzie Albies (Braves) |
| 3 | Brandon Lowe (Rays) | Brandon Lowe (Rays) | Chris Taylor (Dodgers) | Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) |
| 4 | Jose Altuve (Astros) | Ozzie Albies (Braves) | Ozzie Albies (Braves) | Jose Altuve (Astros) |
| 5 | Jonathan India (Reds) | Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) | Brandon Lowe (Rays) | Brandon Lowe (Rays) |
| 6 | Jake Cronenworth (Padres) | Jonathan India (Reds) | Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks) | Jonathan India (Reds) |
| 7 | Jorge Polanco (Twins) | Jorge Polanco (Twins) | Kiké Hernandez (Red Sox) | Jake Cronenworth (Padres) |
| 8 | Ozzie Albies (Braves) | Jake Cronenworth (Padres) | Jonathan India (Reds) | Kiké Hernandez (Red Sox) |
| 9 | Jeff McNeil (Mets) | Chris Taylor (Dodgers) | Tommy Edman (Cardinals) | Chris Taylor (Dodgers) |
| 10 | Chris Taylor (Dodgers) | Kolten Wong (Brewers) | Jake Cronenworth (Padres) | Jorge Polanco (Twins) |
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