Taylor Lindsey

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Diego Padres #20 prospect in 2015
  The Angels, headed by scouting director Eddie Bane, evaluated Lindsey higher than the field when they selected him with the 37th overall pick in 2010. Los Angeles' new front office didn't value Lindsey to the same degree, so they didn't hesitate to trade the organization's preseason No. 1 prospect to the Padres in the July 2014 trade that brought them Huston Street. Lindsey makes frequent contact from an upright, lefthanded stance, driving the ball only to his pull side. A below-average runner, he projects to have an average feel to hit and below-average power production. He doesn't excite scouts with his defensive potential at second base, showing only enough range for the routine play and a below-average arm. He could play every day for a second-division team, but only if he hits in his second try at Triple-A in 2015.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2014
  When Eddie Bane was Angels scouting director, he was quite willing to buck consensus when he and his scouts believed in a player. It worked out well with Mark Trumbo, who signed for $1.425 million as an 18th-rounder out of high school in 2004, but not so well with players like outfielders Chevy Clarke and Ryan Bolden. The Angels liked Lindsey more than most clubs, taking him in the supplemental first round in the 2010 draft, in between Clarke and Bolden, and they signed him for $873,000 as the 37th overall pick. The fourth of Los Angeles' five picks before the second round that year, Lindsey so far has been best of the bunch. Clarke and Bolden have flamed out, while first-rounders Kaleb Cowart and Cam Bedrosian have struggled but remain prospects. Lindsey won Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP honors in 2011, and after a slow start in 2013, he rallied to hit .274/.339/.441 at Double-A Arkansas and finish fourth in the Texas League with 224 total bases. Lindsey always has been a controversial prospect for some scouts because of his unconventional lefthanded swing. He uses a pronounced step to trigger his swing. He almost rests the bat on his shoulder as he begins his hand pump, bringing his front foot back into his body from his already narrow stance. As he reads the pitch, nearly all his weight rests on his back foot while his front foot hangs in the air. He then uncoils into the pitch. It's the kind of stance that should leave him caught leaning on offspeed pitches or behind fastballs, but Lindsey has quick enough hands and balance to make it work. Because the rhythm of his swing is so important, he will go through stretches where he looks lost at the plate, but those difficulties are matched by stretches where he's locked in and hitting everything. Lindsey can turn on any fastball, something he proved by pulling a 95 mph fastball from Carlos Martinez for a home run in late April. He will hit to the opposite field for singles, but his tick-below-average power is all to his pull side. His six triples and 17 home runs all went to right field. Defensively, Lindsey has improved significantly as a pro, especially at turning the double play, where his pivot has transformed from liability to asset. He makes up for a below-average arm by getting rid of the ball quickly. He has reliable hands, but his range will never be more than average. Lindsey is an average runner at best who doesn't hurt or help the club on the bases. Lindsey profiles as an offensive-oriented second baseman whose hitting ability makes up for any liabilities he brings to the field. He's headed to Triple-A Salt Lake in 2014 as a 22-year-old and could make big league incumbent Howie Kendrick, signed through 2015, trade bait.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #7 prospect in 2013
  The Angels surprised several teams when they drafted Lindsey 37th overall and signed him for $873,000 in 2010, but he responded with a Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP season in 2011. The club's new front office chose to skip him a level in 2012 and jumped him to high Class A, where he held his own offensively at age 20. Lindsey is an unorthodox hitter who succeeds largely because of his impressive hand-eye coordination. He has a narrow stance and scouts would like to see him use his legs more in his swing, but he has strong forearms and wrists along with good hands, which gives him a knack for squaring up the baseball. He sets up with his hands unconventionally low, then raises them late to get to his trigger. The Angels tried raising his hand position to help his timing, but it's still something he's getting comfortable with. He's not a major power threat and works more line to line. A below-average runner, Lindsey has enhanced his footwork to avoid having to move to the outfield, but his lateral movement and range need to get better. While his arm strength has improved, it's still fringy. Lindsey will move to Double-A in 2013. He'll have to stay at second base to profile as a regular.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #7 prospect in 2012
  The Angels bucked consensus when they drafted Lindsey 37th overall and signed him for $873,000 in 2010, but he validated that selection by winning Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP honors a year later. He led the league runs (64), hits (105), doubles (28) and extra-base hits (43) while ranking second in batting (.362) and third in slugging (.593). Lindsey ought to continue to hit for high averages with his buggy-whip lefty stroke, especially after learning to take the outside pitch to left field last season. He makes steady contact against both lefties and righties. The Angels love Lindsey's hitting makeup, comparing him to Howard Kendrick because he remains on an even keel whether he collects four hits in a game or none. Lindsey's low hand position and leg kick disrupt his timing against offspeed pitches at times, though he's able to compensate with strong hand-eye coordination. Scouts expect him to grow into average power as he fills out his wiry frame and learns to incorporate his lower half. He's an average defender at second base who ranges well to both sides, though his arm and speed are fringy at best. Lindsey will have to prove his aggressive approach will play at higher levels. He could reach the majors in three years and serve as a top-of-the-order hitter. His journey will continue in low Class A in 2012.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #19 prospect in 2011
  Few teams valued Lindsey as highly as the Angels, who selected him with the 37th overall pick last June and paid out an $873,000 bonus to keep him away from Arizona State. As a shortstop at Desert Mountain High (Scottsdale, Ariz.), he hit .592 and .557 in his final two amateur seasons, though some scouts worried that his metal-bat swing wouldn't translate to wood. Lindsey didn't light up the Arizona League after signing, but he made solid contact and went 19-for-52 (.356) in his final 13 games to finish at .284. He has a sweet lefthanded swing but below-average power, though that doesn't stop him from looking to pull almost exclusively. A below-average runner, Lindsey moved to second base as a pro where he showed just playable range and a below-average arm. Some scouts think his future lies in the outfield. Lindsey can hit, but if he doesn't improve his defensive play or grow into more power he may struggle to find a natural position. He'll move up to low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #10 prospect in 2013
  Lindsey drew attention in the TL this season in his first tour of Double-A, and he did so on an Arkansas team dotted with three first-round picks?third baseman Kaleb Cowart, first baseman C.J. Cron and right fielder Randal Grichuk?that reached the league championship series. Lindsey won the Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP award in 2011, then jumped straight to high Class A in 2012 and to Double-A this season. Lindsey started sluggishly but was a consistent hitter after April, and he has steady rather than flashy tools. He sprayed the ball to all fields, showed some pop and drew enough walks to keep pitchers honest. Defensively, he handled the routine play, committing 18 errors, but his arm, hands and double-play pivot will keep him at the keystone for the long term. An opposing manager described Lindsey as ?a blue-collar guy,? and a scout likened him to Kelly Johnson.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #2 prospect in 2011
  The Angels and former scouting director Eddie Bane valued Lindsey more than most clubs in the 2010 draft, taking him with the 37th overall pick and signing him for $873,000. He has legitimized that faith since signing and won Pioneer League MVP honors after leading the circuit with 64 runs, 105 hits, 28 doubles and 43 extra-base hits. He also finished second in batting (.362) and third in slugging (.593). PL observers believe Lindsey will continue to hit for a high average because he makes consistent contact and distributes line drives all over the field with loose wrists and a buggy-whip lefthanded swing. His leg kick sometimes throws him off balance against offspeed pitches, though he's able to compensate with supreme hand-eye coordination. He hangs in well against lefties, hitting .343 and slugging .586 against them this season while making steady contact. Scouts project average power for Lindsey because he squares up so many balls. He has below-average speed, which prompted his move from shortstop in high school to second base in pro ball, and he rates as a generic defender. He led league second basemen in assists (168), double plays (44) and fielding average (.976) because he makes routine plays well.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #93 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The Angels surprised several teams when they drafted Lindsey 37th overall and signed him for $873,000 in 2010, but he responded with a Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP season in 2011. The club's new front office chose to skip him a level in 2012 and jumped him to high Class A, where he held his own offensively at age 20. Scouting Report: Lindsey is an unorthodox hitter who succeeds largely because of his impressive hand-eye coordination. He has a narrow stance and scouts would like to see him use his legs more in his swing, but he has strong forearms and wrists along with good hands, which gives him a knack for squaring up the baseball. He sets up with his hands unconventionally low, then raises them late to get to his trigger. The Angels tried raising his hand position to help his timing, but it's still something he's getting comfortable with. He's not a major power threat and works more line to line. A below-average runner, Lindsey has enhanced his footwork to avoid having to move to the outfield, but his lateral movement and range need to get better. While his arm strength has improved, it's still fringy. The Future: Lindsey will move to Double-A in 2013. He'll have to stay at second base to profile as a regular.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Angels bucked consensus when they drafted Lindsey 37th overall and signed him for $873,000 in 2010, but he validated that selection by winning Rookie-level Pioneer League MVP honors a year later. He led the league in runs (64), hits (105), doubles (28) and extra-base hits (43) while ranking second in batting (.362) and third in slugging (.593). Scouting Report: Lindsey makes steady contact against both lefties and righties. He ought to continue to hit for high averages with his buggy-whip lefty stroke, especially after learning to take the outside pitch to left field last season. The Angels love Lindsey's hitting makeup, comparing him with Howard Kendrick because he remains on an even keel whether he collects four hits in a game or none. Lindsey's low hand position and leg kick disrupt his timing against offspeed pitches at times, though he's able to compensate with strong hand-eye coordination. Scouts expect him to grow into average power as he fills out his wiry frame and learns to incorporate his lower half. He's an average defender at second base who ranges well to both sides, though his arm and speed are fringy at best.The Future: Lindsey will have to prove his aggressive approach will play at higher levels. His journey will continue in low Class A in 2012.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Few teams valued Lindsey as highly as the Angels, who selected him with the 37th overall pick last June and paid out an $873,000 bonus to keep him away from Arizona State. As a shortstop at Desert Mountain High (Scottsdale, Ariz.), he hit .592 and .557 in his final two amateur seasons, though some scouts worried that his metal-bat swing wouldn't translate to wood. Lindsey didn't light up the Arizona League after signing, but he made solid contact and went 19-for-52 (.356) in his final 13 games to finish at .284. He has a sweet lefthanded swing but below-average power, though that doesn't stop him from looking to pull almost exclusively. A below-average runner, Lindsey moved to second base as a pro where he showed just playable range and a below-average arm. Some scouts think his future lies in the outfield. Lindsey can hit, but if he doesn't improve his defensive play or grow into more power he may struggle to find a natural position. He'll move up to low Class A this year.