Andrew Taylor Stats & Scouting Report

IP	13.2
ERA	5.27
WHIP	1.54
BB/9	3.29
SO/9	11.2

Full name Andrew Peter Taylor
Born 09/23/2001 in Caledonia, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Central Michigan
Drafted in the 2C round (80th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2022 (signed for $807,200).

View Draft Report

Taylor largely attacks hitters with a see-if-you-can-hit-it fastball. It’s a simple approach, but it’s a really impressive fastball, and he throws it nearly 80% of the time. Taylor’s fastball velocity isn’t all that impressive. He sits at 90-91 mph and can touch 93-94, but he generates bushels of swings and misses thanks to the pitch’s excellent life at the top of the zone. He got swings and misses at a well above-average 32% clip with his fastball. That fastball is very appealing to clubs who emphasize analytical attributes. Taylor has been one of the most effective starters in Division I in 2021 and 2022. His 2021 season saw him go 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks in 94 innings. He went 8-4, 3.21 in 2022, but his peripheral numbers were pretty similar (126 strikeouts and 27 walks in 84 innings). He gave up 11 home runs (seven more than in 2021), which helps explain the higher ERA. Taylor’s mid-70s slider and 80 mph curveball are both fringe-average pitches, although his average changeup has solid deception and generates some depth. He has average control. Taylor’s track record of success and lively fastball should help him go before too long on day two of the draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: A breakout sophomore campaign at Central Michigan put Taylor on the draft radar entering his draft summer. He made seven starts for Cape Cod League runner-up Bourne and returned to campus for his junior season in 2022. His numbers didn’t match his sophomore production, but his underlying numbers and fastball shape remained strong. The Astros drafted Taylor with their pick in the supplemental second round in 2022 and signed the righthander for slot value of $807,200. He debuted in 2023 with Low-A Fayetteville and made 24 appearances and threw 84 total innings. While Taylor’s 4.61 ERA was disappointing, his 33.8% strikeout rate and 22.3 K-BB% were among the best in the organizations.

Scouting Report: Taylor’s profile centers around the quality of his four-seam fastball. He mixes four pitches, led by a low-90s fastball with elite ride and life at the top of the zone. In his pro debut, Taylor’s fastball performed by running high rates for strikes, whiffs and chases. His best secondary is a mid-80s slider with cutter-like shape and is his best swing-and-miss pitch. Taylor throws an upper-70s curveball and a low-to-mid-80s changeup. He shows above-average command of his fastball but consistently struggles to land his breaking pitches. His breaking ball shapes have been altered since Taylor’s amateur days, leaving some upside if he can improve their quality. Taylor has good size and fits into the physical characteristics of a typical starting pitching prospect at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds. Refining his secondaries and adding power to his fastball will be points of focus this offseason.

The Future: Taylor has the traits of a back-of-the-rotation starter with upside for more if his fastball velocity and secondary quality take a step forward in 2024.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Taylor enjoyed a standout sophomore season with Central Michigan, where he went 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks over 94.1 innings. He ended his breakout campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he made another seven appearances with Bourne. In 2022, Taylor failed to replicate his sophomore season, though his underlying numbers looked identical. The Astros selected Taylor with the 80th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $804,700. He did not pitch post draft.

Scouting Report: Blessed with plus ride on his fastball, Taylor lived and died by his hop-heavy four-seamer during his collegiate career. The low-90s fastball averaged 20 inches of induced vertical break--an elite number--with late armside run. His ability to command the pitch at the top of the zone allows his trio of secondaries to waterfall off of it. His low-80s slider has a cutter-hybrid type shape and could improve with added power. His mid-70s curveball features heavy two-plane break and is his most-used secondary. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup with tumble and fade. Taylor has average command of his arsenal and could project for above-average control at peak.

The Future: With excellent pitch shapes across his arsenal and a track record of success as a starter, Taylor is the type of pitcher the Astros have had success developing into rotation options. Taylor has the look of a potential No. 4 starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

School: Central Michigan Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.8
BA Grade: 40/High
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: | Control: 50
Taylor largely attacks hitters with a see-if-you-can-hit-it fastball. It’s a simple approach, but it’s a really impressive fastball, and he throws it nearly 80% of the time. Taylor’s fastball velocity isn’t all that impressive. He sits at 90-91 mph and can touch 93-94, but he generates bushels of swings and misses thanks to the pitch’s excellent life at the top of the zone. He got swings and misses at a well above-average 32% clip with his fastball. That fastball is very appealing to clubs who emphasize analytical attributes. Taylor has been one of the most effective starters in Division I in 2021 and 2022. His 2021 season saw him go 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks in 94 innings. He went 8-4, 3.21 in 2022, but his peripheral numbers were pretty similar (126 strikeouts and 27 walks in 84 innings). He gave up 11 home runs (seven more than in 2021), which helps explain the higher ERA. Taylor’s mid-70s slider and 80 mph curveball are both fringe-average pitches, although his average changeup has solid deception and generates some depth. He has average control. Taylor’s track record of success and lively fastball should help him go before too long on day two of the draft.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Taylor enjoyed a standout sophomore season with Central Michigan, where he went 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks over 94.1 innings. He ended his breakout campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he made another seven appearances with Bourne. In 2022, Taylor failed to replicate his sophomore season, though his underlying numbers looked identical. The Astros selected Taylor with the 80th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $804,700. He did not pitch post draft.

Scouting Report: Blessed with plus ride on his fastball, Taylor lived and died by his hop-heavy four-seamer during his collegiate career. The low-90s fastball averaged 20 inches of induced vertical break--an elite number--with late armside run. His ability to command the pitch at the top of the zone allows his trio of secondaries to waterfall off of it. His low-80s slider has a cutter-hybrid type shape and could improve with added power. His mid-70s curveball features heavy two-plane break and is his most-used secondary. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup with tumble and fade. Taylor has average command of his arsenal and could project for above-average control at peak.

The Future: With excellent pitch shapes across his arsenal and a track record of success as a starter, Taylor is the type of pitcher the Astros have had success developing into rotation options. Taylor has the look of a potential No. 4 starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Taylor enjoyed a standout sophomore season with Central Michigan, where he went 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks over 94.1 innings. He ended his breakout campaign in the Cape Cod League, where he made another seven appearances with Bourne. In 2022, Taylor failed to replicate his sophomore season, though his underlying numbers looked identical. The Astros selected Taylor with the 80th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $804,700. He did not pitch post draft.

Scouting Report: Blessed with plus ride on his fastball, Taylor lived and died by his hop-heavy four-seamer during his collegiate career. The low-90s fastball averaged 20 inches of induced vertical break--an elite number--with late armside run. His ability to command the pitch at the top of the zone allows his trio of secondaries to waterfall off of it. His low-80s slider has a cutter-hybrid type shape and could improve with added power. His mid-70s curveball features heavy two-plane break and is his most-used secondary. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup with tumble and fade. Taylor has average command of his arsenal and could project for above-average control at peak.

The Future: With excellent pitch shapes across his arsenal and a track record of success as a starter, Taylor is the type of pitcher the Astros have had success developing into rotation options. Taylor has the look of a potential No. 4 starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
BA Grade: 40/High

August Update: Taylor largely attacks hitters with a see-if-you-can-hit-it fastball. It&#39s a simple approach, but it&#39s a really impressive fastball, and he throws it nearly 80% of the time. Taylor&#39s fastball velocity isn&#39t all that impressive. He sits at 90-91 mph and can touch 93-94, but he generates bushels of swings and misses thanks to the pitch&#39s excellent life at the top of the zone. He got swings and misses at a well above-average 32% clip with his fastball. That fastball is very appealing to clubs who emphasize analytical attributes. Taylor has been one of the most effective starters in Division I in 2021 and 2022. His 2021 season saw him go 11-4, 1.81 with 125 strikeouts and 24 walks in 94 innings. He went 8-4, 3.21 in 2022, but his peripheral numbers were pretty similar (126 strikeouts and 27 walks in 84 innings). He gave up 11 home runs (seven more than in 2021), which helps explain the higher ERA. Taylor&#39s mid-70s slider and 80 mph curveball are both fringe-average pitches, although his average changeup has solid deception and generates some depth. He has average control. Taylor&#39s track record of success and lively fastball was enough to convince the Astros to select him with the 80th overall pick signing for $804,700.