In June the Los Angeles Dodgers moved on from Zach Lee, who was more reclamation project than top prospect. The right-hander was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for infielder Chris Taylor.
To that point in the season he’d appeared in just two games for the Mariners, going 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. In parts of 2014 and 2015, Taylor batted .239/.296/.296 with 11 doubles and 10 RBI over 84 games.
He was assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and went 6-for-12 with three doubles and three RBI in three games before getting recalled by the Dodgers.
Taylor hit .218/.271/.382 with two doubles, two triples, one home run and seven RBI in 29 games (11 starts), then was optioned back to Oklahoma City. He was initially sent down on Aug. 7, though Scott Van Slyke was placed on the 15-day disabled list two days later, and Taylor returned.
Taylor was again optioned on Aug. 21, but that time didn’t return to the Majors until Sept. 23. He was the final player on the Dodgers 40-man roster to join the club during the final month of the regular season.
Taylor batted .368/.438/.544 with six doubles, two triples and eight RBI in 15 regular-season games with Oklahoma City. He was 5-for-32 with one double, three RBI and nine walks in nine postseason games.
The 26-year-old only went on to appear in five games in the final two weeks, each time entering off the bench. He finished the season batting .207/.258/.362 with two doubles, two triples, one home run and seven RBI in 34 games with the Dodgers.
In a break from primarily playing shortstop on the Major League level, Taylor logged time at second base (seven games; five starts), third base (10; two) and shortstop (five; four).
2016 Highlight
A mere two weeks into his tenure with the Dodgers, Taylor had a career night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. He went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, home run (first of Taylor’s career) and six RBI, finishing a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
It wasn’t without lack of effort, as Taylor attempted to bunt his way on in the eighth inning. The Dodgers held a five-run lead at the time, though manager Dave Roberts gave Taylor the green light to drop down a bunt.
2017 Outlook
Taylor should begin next season with Oklahoma City and again fill a utility role and serve as depth for the Dodgers.
