ANAHEIM -- Longtime Dodger and two-time World Series champion Chris Taylor officially announced his retirement on Sunday, just a day after he changed his mind about his initial plans to retire on Friday.
Taylor made the announcement via Instagram, as he sustained a fractured left forearm on Wednesday and submitted paperwork for his retirement on Friday, only to change his mind on Saturday and again on Sunday.
“Clearing up any confusion, I've officially decided to retire from the game I've dedicated my entire life towards,” Taylor wrote in his post. “I'm beyond grateful to all of my coaches and teammates, and the organizations who allowed me to live out my childhood dream. I'll forever cherish the memories along the way and most of all, the friendships that will last a lifetime. Thank you to the loyal fans who have supported me through my success and stuck with me through the struggles.”
Taylor, who was playing with the Triple-A Salt Lake in the Angels’ system, batted .255/.382/.321 with seven doubles and 15 RBIs in 32 games before sustaining his injury Wednesday when he was hit by a pitch.
The 35-year-old, who played all over the outfield and also in the infield, will go down as one of the most important figures of the Dodgers’ run of excellence that began in the 2010s. Acquired in June 2016 for longtime top pitching prospect Zach Lee, Taylor’s acquisition proved to be one of the savviest moves of the Andrew Friedman era with the Dodgers.
After struggling with the Mariners, Taylor broke out in 2017 for the Dodgers, posting an .850 OPS with 21 home runs in 140 games. Taylor kept his heroics going in October, when he was selected as NLCS co-MVP with Justin Turner and hit a leadoff home run in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers’ first Fall Classic game since 1988.
He became a fixture in the Dodgers’ lineup for most of the next decade, spending 10 seasons in Los Angeles and hitting 108 home runs with a .761 OPS in 1,007 games. Taylor was even better in October, posting a .791 OPS with nine home runs in 80 games. He made his lone All-Star appearance in the Majors in 2021, and became something of a Swiss Army Knife, playing six different positions for Los Angeles.
Taylor hit three home runs in Game 5 of the 2021 NLCS against the Braves, a game the Dodgers needed to win to avoid elimination.
He won World Series titles with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024.
After being designated for assignment in May 2025, Taylor finished his season with the Angels, appearing in 30 games for the Dodgers’ Southern California neighbors. Taylor re-signed with the Angels on a Minor League deal in February.