Michael A. Taylor Stats & Scouting Report

AB	269
AVG	.193
OBP	.253
SLG	.29
HR	5

Full name Michael Anthony Taylor
Born 03/26/1991 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Westminster Academy
Debut 08/12/2014
Drafted in the 6th round (172nd overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2009 (signed for $125,000).

View Draft Report

Taylor has good size at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and may need to move off shortstop eventually. He has enough athletic ability to remain in the infield. His bat was strong all spring, and the North Florida recruit has average future power potential.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Taylor has made steady progress since being drafted as a raw, athletic shortstop in 2009, first blossoming into an elite defensive center fielder and then emerging as formidable power/speed threat on offense. He posted his best offensive season in 2014, swatting 23 home runs, stealing 37 bases and ranking as the top prospect in the Double-A Eastern League before reaching the big leagues in August. The long-striding Taylor is a fluid, graceful runner with plus speed underway and plus-plus range in center field thanks to his superb instincts and quick first step. He also is a smart, efficient basestealer. Taylor's home run output spiked at Double-A Harrisburg in 2014 as he made substantial progress harnessing his plus power potential by creating more leverage in his swing. In the past, his swing often broke down on his front side, but he did a better job keeping his lower half in better position to allow him to track balls longer and keep his hands to work for him. His feel for hitting has improved, but his bat still projects as below-average and strikeout-prone. Taylor can provide value even if he never hits for average, because his other tools are loud. He could become a solid everyday center fielder, and he has all-star potential if his bat takes another step forward. He figures to spend most of 2015 at Triple-A Syracuse.
Drafted as a shortstop, Taylor took to center field in a hurry and made himself into a legitimate prospect based primarily on his spectacular defense. After struggling offensively in high Class A in 2012, he repeated the level in 2013 and made major gains. The wiry, quick-twitch Taylor earns frequent physical comparisons to Mike Cameron and Adam Jones. He's a plus runner with plus-plus range thanks to his outstanding reads and jumps, and his plus arm is accurate. He made huge strides with his baserunning, demonstrating good leads, reads and jumps. Taylor also has above-average raw power, but scouts have reservations about whether he'll ever hit enough to unlock it. He has a choppy, disjointed swing and a tendency to get very aggressive with his stride, though he made progress toning it down in instructional league. He still struggles mightily against offspeed stuff, but he can punish fastballs in or over the plate. If Taylor can become even a below-average hitter, his other tools could give him significant big league value. If he can mature into a fringy or average hitter, he can be an all-star. Next year will be a big test, as he'll get his first taste of upper-level pitching in Double-A.
Drafted as a shortstop, Taylor adapted quickly when the Nationals converted him to center field in instructional league after his rough 2010 debut. He complemented his sometimes-dazzling defense with improved offense in 2011, but he failed to build upon that last year in high Class A. He missed time in August after spraining his foot when it got caught under a pad in the outfield fence. Taylor earns comparisons to Mike Cameron and B.J. Upton for his rangy athleticism, his gracefulness in center field, his raw power--and his tendency to swing and miss. The length in Taylor's stroke causes scouts to wonder if he'll ever hit enough to reach the big leagues The Nationals want him to learn to trust his hands, and they think that will come as he continues to get stronger. Taylor hit all three of his home runs last season in July when he simplified his load, stayed more upright and maintained a better direction in his stride. He could grow into average power down the line. For now, defense is Taylor's calling card. He has plus speed underway and outstanding instincts in center field, translating to excellent range. His above-average arm generates low, accurate throws with good carry. Washington would like the mild-mannered Taylor to play with more urgency in 2013, when he will likely repeat high Class A.
A raw athlete who lacked polish at shortstop, Taylor struggled mightily in the infield and at the plate in his 2010 debut. The Nationals moved him to center field in instructional league after the season, and he took to it immediately, flashing premium defensive ability by the end of the fall. The defensive switch also took pressure off him at the plate, and he held his own in low Class A as a 20-year-old last year. He reminds club officials of Devon White and Mike Cameron physically, using his plus speed to glide effortlessly around center field, where his excellent instincts translate to stellar range. Taylor still is fine-tuning his throwing technique but flashes above-average arm strength. Taylor is a work in progress at the plate, but his quick hands generate impressive leverage and bat speed. He had a narrow base and a long stride heading into 2011, causing his front foot to get down late and his back side to collapse. He made progress during the season at getting his foot down earlier and staying in better hitting position. He also showed the ability to shorten up and take the ball the other way with two strikes, though Washington wants him to attack pitches when he's ahead in the count. He has power to center and left field, and a chance to grow into 20-25 homer pop as he fills out his angular frame. The Nats love Taylor's upside, but he is still a long way from putting his considerable upside together. He'll advance to high Class A in 2012.

Minor League Top Prospects

After a smashing winter-league performance in Puerto Rico in the offseason, Taylor broke out in a big way in the EL before a brief stay at Triple-A Syracuse leading to his big league debut in August. He ranked top-five in the league in batting (.313), home runs (22), stolen bases (34), on-base percentage (.396) and slugging (.539). Added muscle and a refined approach at the plate helped Taylor unlock his power at the plate, which showed up loudly in his production at Harrisburg. He possesses supreme bat speed and is extremely strong through his core and his lower half. He can hit the ball out to any part of the park, though the extra thump came with a corresponding spike in his strikeout rate. Taylor is both quick and fast in the outfield, and those skills allowed him to get incredible jumps and make up ground if he did misread a ball. That speed manifested on the bases as well, where he used his aptitude to maximize his leads and pick the proper spots to steal. He ranked fifth in the EL in stolen bases despite playing in just 98 games. His arm also rated neck-and-neck with Altoona's Willy Garcia for the best in the league.
Taylor took a step toward reaching his significant potential during a second tour of the CL. A physical talent with above-average speed that plays in center field and on the basepaths, he more than doubled his career high in stolen bases (with 51) while improving his first-step quickness and reads of pick-off moves. Taylor continued to improve his routes in center field in his third season since moving there from shortstop, and he glides to balls in the gaps and over his head. He topped the league with 21 outfield assists and earned best outfield arm honors from CL managers. Taylor began to tap into his power at the plate but still isn?t disciplined enough in his approach to drive balls with regularity. At his best, he has the bat speed to turn on fastballs and the strength to take breaking balls to the opposite field. Yet he is susceptible to chasing fastballs up in the zone and curveballs off the plate. If he makes the necessary adjustments, Taylor has all-star potential. If not, he figures to be a fourth outfielder in the mold of Justin Maxwell. ?His biggest jump came on the basepaths,? Carolina?s Wallace said. ?When you get a guy who can do that, it?s a game-changer. He makes everyone in the lineup better.?

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Batting Prospect in the Eastern League in 2014
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Eastern League in 2014
Rated Most Exciting Player in the Eastern League in 2014
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Eastern League in 2014
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Washington Nationals in 2014
Rated Best Athlete in the Washington Nationals in 2014
Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Washington Nationals in 2013
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Washington Nationals in 2013
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Washington Nationals in 2012
Rated Best Athlete in the Washington Nationals in 2012

Career Transactions

Pittsburgh Pirates released CF Michael A. Taylor.
Pittsburgh Pirates designated CF Michael A. Taylor for assignment.
Pittsburgh Pirates activated CF Michael A. Taylor from the paternity list.
Pittsburgh Pirates placed CF Michael A. Taylor on the paternity list.
Kansas City Royals traded CF Michael A. Taylor to Minnesota Twins for LHP Evan Sisk and RHP Steven Cruz.
Minnesota Twins activated CF Michael A. Taylor.
Minnesota Twins activated CF Michael A. Taylor.