Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has praised Chris Taylor with plenty of regularity this season, lauding the utility man for taking advantage of the opportunity presented to him. While Taylor has played second base, third base and shorstop this season, he may soon see outfield grass.
Taylor fielded fly balls prior to Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s a practice he’s completed on multiple occasions of late. “I think we’re past the point of just an emergency situation,” Roberts said of potentially using Taylor in the outfield.
“I keep my eye on him out there. He’s working hard to get reads, he’s getting more comfortable. The training wheels are coming off. So we’ll probably see him in the outfield here shortly.”
Taylor played center field during Spring Training, which was a career first. “You want to be as versatile as you can, especially on this team,” he said at the time.
The transition from utility infielder to part-time center fielder didn’t yield the best results. Though, the sample size was relatively small; six games (three starts) and a total of 28 innings during Cactus League play.
Although the 26-year-old may soon see time in the outfield, Taylor’s focus, for now at least, remains at second base and third base. Roberts offered some clarity on how he’ll juggle Logan Forsythe, Taylor and Chase Utley up the middle.
“I think for the short term, there’s going to be a three-way rotation, Roberts said. “Logan, we’ve got to ease him back into things. With Chase, I want to make sure to give him opportunities because he’s played well. And also with Chris, to make sure he’s current and stays in the mix. He’s earned it.”
Forsythe delivered a walk-off double in his first game back from the disabled list.
