Following a 12-season tenure in the major leagues, veteran utility man Chris Taylor is concluding his professional baseball journey.
The announcement of Taylor’s departure from the game appeared in the MiLB transaction records on Friday. At the time, he was affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A team in Salt Lake, where he had recorded a batting line of .255/.382/.321, including seven two-baggers across 132 trips to the plate.
The 35-year-old athlete gained significant recognition during his decade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, securing two World Series titles and sharing the NLCS MVP award in 2017. He also earned a spot on the National League All-Star squad in 2021.
Taylor’s standout year occurred in 2017, when he posted a .288/.354/.496 batting line, contributing 21 long balls, 34 two-base hits, 72 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases. Consistent with his career versatility, Taylor covered numerous positions for the Dodgers during that campaign, taking the field for 49 contests in center, 48 in left, 22 at second, 14 at shortstop, and eight at third base.
Originating from Virginia, he was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2012 draft and spent three seasons with Seattle prior to his trade to the Dodgers in 2016 in exchange for hurler Zach Lee. Taylor continued with the Dodgers for the subsequent decade, extending his contract as a free agent before his eventual release early in the 2025 season. He then joined the Angels, participating in 30 games and concluding his tenure with a .179/.278/.321 batting line.
A truly memorable highlight from Taylor’s time with the Dodgers was his game-ending home run against Alex Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals, securing victory in the 2021 National League wild-card showdown.
Across eight playoff appearances, Taylor compiled a .247 batting average, a .792 on-base plus slugging percentage, 13 two-baggers, 9 round-trippers, and 26 runs batted in. This impressive record encompasses his performance in the 2017 NLCS, where he shared the Most Valuable Player recognition with Justin Turner, batting .316 with a 1.248 OPS and launching two home runs.
Taylor concludes his MLB career with a composite slash line of .248/.327/.419, accumulating 110 home runs and 443 runs batted in. His defensive assignments included 383 appearances in left field, 290 at shortstop, another 233 games in left field, 182 at second base, and 94 at third.
