Background: Taylor was considered to be the closest thing to a five-tool outfielder in the 1995 draft, but he has been slow to develop as a hitter. In 1998 he missed time with a broken little finger on one hand, came back and broke the little finger on his other hand four days later. He'll work on sliding feet-first in spring training. Strengths: Taylor still excites scouts with his raw ability, especially on defense, where he has Gold Glove-winning potential. He has plenty of natural power but when he tries to go deep, which is frequently, he pulls off the ball badly and is easy pickings for most pitchers. Weaknesses: The big question with Taylor is whether he will hit or not. His other offensive fundamentals, such as base running and pitch selection, are also weak. The Future: In fairness to Taylor, the Phillies have moved him quickly through their system, especially for a raw player with limited experience. He will repeat Double-A in 1998, where the Phillies new development team will continue to stress his offensive approach.
Minor League Top Prospects
Taylor is the only player in the Top 10 who spent any time in the EL in 1998. Actually, Taylor spent all of 1998 in the EL, starting the process of putting together all of his tools. This season, he became the first Reading player in nearly 20 years to reach double figures in doubles, triples and homers. "You have to understand where he's come from, a small rural area in South Carolina," said Sisson, who has managed against Taylor in three of the last four seasons. "He never got much instruction, never played much baseball and they've had him on the fast track. They've pushed him every year, and he's always held his head above water."
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