Taylor Teagarden Stats & Scouting Report

AB	510
AVG	.202
OBP	.26
SLG	.376
HR	21

Full name Taylor Hill Teagarden
Born 12/21/1983 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Texas
Debut 07/18/2008
Drafted in the 3rd round (99th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2005 (signed for $725,000).

View Draft Report

The best defensive catcher in the draft, Teagarden has exceptional skills behind the plate. "He's as good a catch-and-throw guy as I've seen since Joe Mauer," one scout said. Teagarden also earns high marks for his ability to block balls in the dirt, call games and manage a pitching staff. The consensus is that he could handle defensive responsibilities in the majors right now. The question with Teagarden always has been how much he'll produce at the plate, and he picked up the tag of a light-hitting catcher in high school. His proponents say that's not fair and believe he can bat .275 with 15 homers in the big leagues. Texas' Disch-Falk Stadium is a bad hitter's park where balls die in the gaps, and Teagarden has just three homers this spring. He also has 17 doubles and borderline average power, including to the opposite field. Southern California's Jeff Clement is the best-hitting college catcher in this year's draft crop, and Teagarden outhit (.309 to .275) and outslugged him (.473 to .435) with wood bats on Team USA last summer. He has a discriminating eye at the plate, ranking among the NCAA Division I leaders with 38 walks this spring. Teagarden has Scott Boras as his adviser, which could cause him to slide out of the first round if teams worry about his signability.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Teagarden showed up to major league camp healthy and homered in his first at-bat last spring, only to miss three weeks with a wrist injury. The layoff hurt his offense in the first half of the season, but didn't stop him from earning spots in the Futures Game and on the U.S. Olympic team, as well as his first major legaue callup. Teagarden's receiving, blocking and throwing all rate as above-average. He has excellent recall and pitchers are comfortable with his game-calling. Offensively, he has solid-average power and a patient approach. Texas was disappointed with Teagarden's bat for most of 2008, and many in the organization doubt he'll ever hit for average. There's length in his stroke and he tends to swing through fastballs. He also strikes out quite a bit, a by-product of the deep counts he often finds himself in. With his defense, leadership and power potential, Teagarden profiles as a solid everyday big league catcher and perhaps an all-star. The Rangers have several candidates, but he could get a shot at their starting job in 2009.
After leading Texas to the College World Series and posting a solid pro debut in 2005, Teagarden ended his year with Tommy John surgery. He worked his way back as a DH late in 2006 and entered 2007 mostly healthy, but elbow fatigue in late April set him back. He wound up catching just two or three games per week the rest of the way and serving as a DH the rest of the time. Most Rangers officials regard Teagarden as a major league-ready defensive catcher already, thanks to his soft hands, solid footwork and feel for the game. His arm is slightly above average but plays up further thanks to his footwork, quick release and accuracy. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers in 2007. Offensively, he entered pro ball with a rather flat swing path at times, but he since has improved his load and been able to generate more loft and backspin, giving him solid-average pull power and doubles pop to the opposite field. He has natural leadership skills. Teagarden still needs a little more work calling games, but his intelligence should expedite that process as he gets more work behind the plate. Because of his patient offensive approach, he takes his share of strikeouts. The Rangers took the reins off Teagarden in the fall, and he should be ready to catch nearly every day in 2008--likely back at Double-A to start the year. Texas may not need him thanks to Saltalamacchia, but Teagarden should be ready to be an everyday catcher by 2009.
Teagarden followed up a whirlwind 2005 with a quiet 2006. After helping lead Texas to the College World Series championship, signing for a $725,000 bonus and swatting seven homers in his pro debut, he capped his 2005 by having Tommy John surgery. He missed almost all of 2006 while rehabbing his elbow and a disc problem in his back, getting just 20 at-bats as a DH in Rookie ball. His back was completely healed and he swung the bat fairly well in instructional league, and he even caught the Rangers' final instructional league game, throwing out a baserunner. At full strength, Teagarden is an exceptional defensive catcher, with soft hands, quick feet and a strong, accurate throwing arm. His defense figures to carry him, as he still needs to refine his offensive approach and shore up some holes in his swing. Teagarden does have decent pop in his bat, and his overall package gives him a shot to be an everyday big league catcher. He should be fully healthy by spring training and could start 2007 in high Class A to make up for lost time.
Teagarden was a leader on Texas' College World Series championship team last spring and was the best defensive catcher available in the draft. Because of concerns about his bat and his signability--he's a Scott Boras client--the Rangers got him in the third round. He signed for $725,000, which could be a bargain, and hit well at short-season Spokane. Teagarden has amazingly soft hands and good quickness and agility behind the plate. He blocks balls in the dirt well and has a strong, accurate throwing arm with a quick release. He put on an impressive show in instructional league, hitting balls out of the park to all fields, and the Rangers think he will develop at least average power. Long-term wear on Teagarden's elbow led him to have Tommy John surgery after instructional league. The rehab isn't as grueling for position players as it is for pitchers, so Texas considers it just a short-term setback. He has holes in his swing and struck out in one-third of his at-bats during his debut. He's a below-average runner but decent for a catcher. The surgery will cost Teagarden a nonroster invitation to big league camp, but the Rangers think he'll be able to hit early in 2006 and throw by the end of season. It may be easier to get him at-bats as a DH in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Defense never has been a question for Teagarden, but his ability to hit and stay healthy have been concerns. He allayed the first of those this season, as he hit .310 with 27 homers between Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. He has legitimate gap power and solid strike-zone judgment. However, Teagarden missed most of last season after having Tommy John surgery in 2005. Further elbow problems and back troubles forced him to DH for most of 2007. In the 30 games he caught in the Cal League, he was as good as advertised. Teagarden regular clocked a 1.9 pop time on throws to second base and erased 38 percent of basestealers. He also calls a good game and pitchers enjoy working with him. Subero called him the most intelligent player he ever has managed.
The best defensive catcher available in the 2005 draft, Teagarden slipped to the third round because of signability concerns. After he accepted a $725,000 bonus, he opened his pro career with one hit in 20 at-bats before rebounding to bat .342 the rest of the way. His swing has some holes, but Teagarden displays a great knowledge of the strike zone and hits well when he gets ahead in the count. He showed power to all fields, but rarely packed a punch when behind in the count. He continued to stand out behind the plate with his arm (he threw out 38 percent of basestealers), receiving and blocking skills and game-calling ability. "He's going to be a dandy," Spokane manager Greg Riddoch said. "He's as good a catch-and-throw guy as I've seen. He's got a good arm and good soft hands behind the plate."