It appeared that after 12 seasons in the major leagues, the long-serving versatile player Chris Taylor was concluding his professional career.
Taylor’s decision to retire was noted in Friday’s MiLB transaction log, but by Saturday, information emerged stating the adaptable athlete had withdrawn his retirement and was instead assigned to the Minor League injured list with a broken forearm.
He is presently affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A Salt Lake team and has accumulated a batting line of .255/.382/.321, including seven two-base hits over 132 plate appearances this season.
Taylor’s declaration of his retirement was authentic. Not only was it confirmed by the league, but it also prompted commendations from MLB organizations, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent a decade.
Taylor’s most accomplished season was in 2017, when he posted batting figures of .288/.354/.496 with 21 home runs, 34 doubles, 72 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases. Consistent with his career, Taylor played various positions for the Dodgers during that season, appearing in 49 games in center field, 48 in left field, 22 games at second base, 14 games at shortstop, and eight at third base.
He was a fifth-round draftee in 2012 by the Seattle Mariners after attending Virginia and played three campaigns in Seattle before being traded to the Dodgers in 2016 in exchange for pitcher Zach Lee. Taylor remained with the Dodgers for the subsequent 10 seasons, re-signing with them as an unrestricted agent prior to his eventual release early in the 2025 season. Taylor then signed with the Angels and participated in 30 contests, achieving a .179/.278/.321 slash line.
The defining highlight of Taylor’s career with the Dodgers remains his game-winning home run against Alex Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals to secure victory in the 2021 National League wild-card game.
Across eight postseason appearances, Taylor has recorded a .247 batting average with a .792 OPS, 13 doubles, 9 long balls, and 26 runs batted in. This includes the 2017 NLCS, where he shared Most Valuable Player honors with Justin Turner, hitting .316 with a 1.248 OPS and two home runs.
This occurrence adds another noteworthy segment to the versatile player’s professional history. He will now concentrate on recovering from his fractured forearm.
