Samad Taylor Off To Strong Start In 2023
2 years agoKansas City Royals infield prospect Samad Taylor is coming off a strong opening series in which he went 6-for-14 with a triple and homer, all while driving in six runs and stealing two bases. It was promising to see him post strong offensive results after he seemed to regress at the plate in 2022. Taylor was on the move last summer when the Royals acquired him from the Blue Jays in exchange for Whit Merrifield. This midseason move could have had an impact on the infielder's subpar numbers at the plate, and it also indicates that he could get back on track with a smoother, less chaotic season ahead of him. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Taylor is an aggressive, toolsy player who can generate bat speed and put the ball in play. What he lacks in power, he makes up for with speed, allowing him to hustle around the basepaths quite naturally. Additionally, Taylor has the range and glovework needed to stick in the middle of the infield (likely second base) long-term.
Source: FanGraphs
Source: FanGraphs