Michael Anthony Taylor resides in Boca Raton, Fla., during the offseason, with wife, Brianna...Graduated from Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 2009.
2022
Appeared in 124 games for the Royals after missing 13 games while on the Injured List from May 19-June 3...played in 123 games (114 starts) in centerfield and made one start as the designated hitter...Recorded a .990 fielding percentage as a centerfielder and collected eight outfield assists, which ranked tied for third among all major league centerfielders, trailing only Myles Straw (12) and Cedric Mullins (9)...per FanGraphs, his 19 defensive runs saved matched Daulton Varsho for the most among all outfielders in 2022...his 38 defensive runs saved over the last two seasons lead all outfielders, well ahead of Kyle Tucker, who is second with 23...Batted .338 (46-for-136) in his first 44 games at Kauffman Stadium through Aug. 7, which ranked as the fourth-highest home batting average in baseball over that stretch (min. 120 AB), trailing Paul Goldschmidt (.365), Jose Altuve (.341) and Nico Hoerner (.340)…was reinstated from the 10-day Injured List on June 3 after missing 14 games, and from June 4 through the end of the month, he batted a team-best .329 (24-for-73), which was the 11th-highest mark in the AL and was his best average in any single month of his career (min. 65 AB)…Over three months from May 1-July 31, he slashed .300/.357/.432 (58-for-192) over 57 games, with 13 extra-base hits (6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR), 23 RBI and 24 runs scored...from Aug. 1 through the end of the season, his batting average dropped to just .220 (38-for-173) over his final 50 games...Had a pair of eight-game on-base streaks within the first two months of the season, from April 21-May 1 (.375 OBP) and May 9-16 (.364 OBP)…Matched a career high with 35 walks (also 2015 with the Nationals) and recorded six games with multiple walks, his most in a single season...Recorded his fifth career walk-off hit July 8 vs. Cleveland and second with the Royals...his game-winning single also marked his 26th career RBI in the ninth inning-or-later and the seventh that gave his team the lead...Made first career pitching appearance with a scoreless eighth inning and a two-run ninth in a loss to Cleveland on July 9, becoming the first Royals position player to pitch in a game since Hanser Alberto recorded one out on the mound on April 20, 2021 vs. Tampa Bay...was just the fourth Royals position player to record six outs in a game, joining Joe Simpson (Sept. 5, 1983), Bill Pecota (June 24, 1991) and David Howard (April 12, 1994)…also became the first Royals position player to record two strikeouts in a pitching appearance, as the previous 19 players combined for four strikeouts...Hit his sixth career leadoff HR on Aug. 28 vs. the Padres (off Sean Manaea), his first in more than six years, since June 19, 2016 off Drew Pomeranz in San Diego (with Washington)…also had an RBI single and a two-run single to mark his first multi-RBI game since July 25, while snapping a 4-for-36 skid...marked his third career game with at least four RBI...Tied for fourth in the AL with 24 infield hits, which was topped only by Amed Rosario (30), Xander Bogaerts (27) and Steven Kwan (27)...Acquired by Minnesota via trade with the Royals on Jan. 23, in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Steven Cruz and lefthanded pitcher Evan Sisk.
2021
Appeared in a career-high 142 games in his first season with Kansas City after signing as a free agent on Dec. 1, 2020...avoided the Injured List for the entire season, only missing two stints in September while being placed on the Family Medical Emergency List from Sept. 12-17 and 24-28...Won his first career Rawlings Gold Glove Award, the first Royals center fielder to earn the honor since Willie Wilson in 1980...led all center fielders with 11 outfield assists, which ranked fifth among all American League outfielders...Combined with Andrew Benintendi as the first pair of Royals outfielders to win Gold Glove Awards in the same season...2021 marked the eighth time the Royals won multiple Rawlings Gold Glove Awards...Led Major League center fielders with 19 defensive runs saved (FanGraphs), 15 outs above average and 14 runs prevented (Baseball Savant)...his 19 defensive runs saved were second among all players at any position, behind only Houston shortstop Carlos Correa (21)...He ranked third among American League center fielders with a .992 fielding percentage, being charged with just three errors in 365 total chances...His career-best 11 outfield assists were the most by a Royals center fielder since Melky Cabrera had 13 in 2011...Set career-highs in games, runs (58), hits (118), sacrifice flies (5) and hit-by-pitches (5), while tying his career-best in sacrifice hits (2)...Had two outfield assists on Opening Day vs. Texas, throwing out a pair of runners at the plate…it was his third career game with two outfield assists (also April 6, 2016, and June 19, 2017) and he became the first Royal with two outfield assists since Whit Merrifield on May 27, 2019...Hit a solo homer off Texas’ Taylor Hearn to become the first Royal to homer on Opening Day since Lucas Duda on March 29, 2018 vs. the White Sox…became just the third Royals center fielder to homer on Opening Day, joining Carlos Beltrán (April 5, 2004) and Amos Otis (April 7, 1997)...he had a pair of RBI singles to become the 13th Royal (14th time) to record three RBI on Opening Day and the first since Duda in 2018...On April 1, he became the first Royals outfielder to homer and throw out two runners at home plate in a game since Carlos Beltrán on July 20, 1999, at the Cubs...Was the fourth Royal with three hits and three RBI on Opening Day, joining Álex Ríos (2015), Mark Grudzielanek (2007) and Amos Otis (1977)...In the second game on April 3, he hit a 458-foot solo home run in the fifth, becoming the fourth Royal in history to homer in each of the first two team games of the year, following Amos Otis (1977), Clint Hurdle (1981) and Whit Merrifield (2021)…at 111.4 mph, it was his hardest-hit homer in the Statcast Era (since 2015) and his second-longest homer during that span, trailing only a 493-foot shot off Yohan Flande Aug. 20, 2015 at Colorado...Added a two-run double in the sixth inning on April 3, marking a franchise-record six RBI in the club’s first two games, matching Whit Merrifield, who also had six RBI through two games…he became the 17th player since 1901 to record a home run and three RBI in each of his team’s first two games and the second player to do it in 2021, joining former Royal Eric Hosmer, who homered and had three RBI in each of San Diego’s first two games...Hit safely in all seven games to begin the season through April 11, marking the longest hitting streak by a Royal that began on Opening Day since Whit Merrifield hit in 11 straight to begin the 2019 season, which extended his career-long hitting streak that began Sept. 10, 2018 to 31 games...Hit three home runs in a seven-game span from May 14-22, including in consecutive games May 19 and 21, and had a 1.042 OPS in that span...Strung together a 12-game on-base streak from July 2-20, in which he posted a .383 OBP, falling one game shy of his career-long run (13) in June 2018...Slashed .323/.366/.484 (20-for-62, .850 OPS) in 18 Interleague games, with 13 RBI, two doubles and two home runs, one triple and seven runs...ranked tied for seventh in batting average among AL players who had at least 70 Interleague plate appearances in 2021 with Luis Arraez, trailing only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.355 AVG, 90 PA), Rafael Devers (.346, 87), Bo Bichette (.341, 92), Jonathan Schoop (.341, 87), Trey Mancini (.338, 78) and DJ LeMahieu (.328, 75)...was the highest Interleague average by a Royal since Eric Hosmer (.373) and Lorenzo Cain (.342) in 2017...Posted a slashline of .295/.344/.424 (41-for-139) vs. left-handed pitching, leading the club in on-base percentage and trailing only Andrew Benintendi (.303, .455) and Salvador Perez (.302, .640) in batting average and slugging percentage (min. 150 PA vs. lefthanded pitching)...Agreed to a two-year contract extension to remain in Kansas City through the 2023 season on Sept. 29.
2020
In his final season with Washington, appeared in 38 games, making 23 starts – eight in left field, eight in center field and seven in right field...Committed just one error in 65 chances (.984 fielding percentage), marking the third-straight season he’s been charged with exactly one miscue...Despite hitting a career-low .196 (18-for-92), slugged .424 as 11 of his 18 hits went for extra bases…that included slugging .453 over his final 21 games (Aug. 31- end of season), with four doubles, three homers and 11 RBI...Went 9-for-30 (.300) with two outs, which included seven two-out RBI...Homered in his first game of the season, hitting a solo shot vs. the Yankees (off Luis Avilán) on July 25...Drove in a season-high three runs in the second game of a doubleheader on Sept. 4 at Atlanta, which included a two-run double and an RBI single...Collected his third career walk-off hit, driving in the deciding tally on Sept. 11 vs. Atlanta in the 12th inning of an 8-7 triumph.
2019
Opened the season with a sprained left knee/hip suffered in Spring Training...Returned to the Nationals before being optioned to Double-A Harrisburg at the end of June...Was recalled to D.C. on Sept. 1...Recorded a .463 slugging percentage (16 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR) in 57 games with Harrisburg...Went 8-for-17 (.471) with five doubles, homer, five RBI before September recall...Went 6-for-12 (.500) with a double, homer, two stolen bases and four runs scored in 10 September big league games...Homered in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series.
2018
Played in 134 games, his most since 2015...Ranked tied for seventh in the National League with 24 stolen bases...Was strong in June, hitting .349 (22- for-63) with five doubles, one homer, 10 RBI, four walks and nine runs scored... His .349 average ranked tied for fifth in the NL in June...Recorded a career-best 13-game hitting streak from June 2-22...Was tied for the longest streak by a National in 2018...Laced his second career walk-off hit on May 22 vs. San Diego...Played in seven games for Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter League following the season (.143, 2 RBI, BB, R).
2017
Stepped in for an injured Adam Eaton and went on to set career marks in several offensive categories...From April 29 (the day he took over for an injured Eaton) through the end of the season, hit .280 with 23 doubles, three triples, 19 homers, 52 RBI, 28 walks, 17 stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 105 games...Recorded career marks in doubles, triples, homers, stolen bases and runs scored...Posted a career-high 30 multi-hit games along the way...Finished the season strong, hitting .321 (25-for-78) with a .615 slugging percentage (2 3B, 3B, 6 HR) in his last 22 games...Was tied for second among National League center fielders with eight outfield assists in just 111 games...Eight assists were a career high...Recorded the first inside-the-park grand slam in Nationals history on Sept. 8 vs. PHI (Thompson)...That came as a part of a career-high five-RBI effort...15 of his 19 home runs came off right-handed pitchers...Shined in the Postseason, hitting safely in four of the five NLDS games...Homered in Game 4, a grand slam off Wade Davis and in Game 5, a three run shot off Kyle Hendricks...His grand slam in Game 4 was the first Postseason grand slam in franchise history.
2016
Made Washington's Opening Day roster for the second straight season...Enjoyed three separate stints with the Nationals in 2016...Clubbed a team-high three leadoff home runs for the Nationals (4/15 at PHI off J. Hellickson, 4/29 at STL off M. Leake, 6/19 at SDP off D. Pomeranz)...Recorded his first career multi-home run game, June 19 at SDP (4-for-4, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB)...Hit safely in 18 straight starts from May 3 to June 20 (.329, 8 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SB, 13 R)...Hit .205 with five doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBI, 12 walks, seven stolen bases and 17 runs scored in 31 games for Triple-A Syracuse...Appeared in the Postseason for the first time.
2015
Entered 2015 rated as one of Washington's top prospects...Was thrust into everyday duty due to a rash of injuries to Washington's outfield...Ranked among NL rookies in stolen bases (T1st, 16), outfield assists (T1st, 6), RBI (4th, 63), home runs (T7th, 14), walks (7th, 35) and hits (8th, 108)...Clubbed two of Washingtons eight leadoff home runs (4/10 at PHI off J. Williams and 7/4 vs. SFG off M. Bumgarner)...Clubbed 10th-inning, pinch-hit, walk-off three-run HR, Sept. 4 vs. Atlanta...Was the first pinch-hit, walk-off home run in Nationals history (2005-present)...Ten of his 14 home runs either tied the game or gave the Nationals the lead...Led the Nationals and ranked 15th in the National League with a .317 average w/RISP...Hit go-ahead grand slam in ninth inning of May 13 comeback 9-6 win at Arizona after entering in the seventh inning in place of Bryce Harper (ejected)...Homered in three straight games, August 20-22 (4-for-14, 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB, 4 R)...Hit 10 of his 14 home runs off right-handed pitchers.
2014
Began the season with Double-A Harrisburg before being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse on Aug. 2 and eventually was summoned to D.C. on Aug. 12 for his big league debut...Posted first hit (2nd-inn. single off R.Montero) and home run (6th inn. 2-run off C. Torres) in MLB debut, Aug. 12 at New York Mets... At top two levels/110 games in Washington's chain, ranked among system leaders in batting (4th, .304), home runs (2nd, 23) & stolen bases (3rd, 37)... Hit .313 with 22 HR, 61 RBI and 34 stolen bases in 98 games and finished second in balloting for Double-A Eastern League MVP...Following the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Eastern League...Was selected to play in the Sirius-XM All-Star Futures game in Minneapolis...Garnered several honors throughout the season: MiLB.com Organization All-Star, Baseball America Minor League All-Star, Eastern League Rookie of the Year, and Eastern League mid-season and post-season All-Star.
2013
Washington's Opening Day starter for a 2nd straight year reached the 30-start threshold for the first time...recorded 500th career strikeout (Christian Yelich) in 426.1 career innings, Sept. vs MIA (night)...reached 500-K plateau in 3rd-fewest innings in MLB history (only Kerry Wood-404.1 and Mark Prior-421.2 required fewer innings)...earned just 8 wins due in part to DL stint (missed 2 starts), lack of run support (one or less run while in the game 10 times) and 10 unearned runs (tied for 4th-most in NL)...ranked among NL leaders in home ERA (3rd, 1.73), K/9 (4th, 9.4), batting average against (4th, .207), opponents OPS (5th, .588), WHIP (6th, 1.05) and ERA (8th, 3.00)...endured one DL stint (right lat, missed 12 games/2 starts, June 1-15).
