Michael A. Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michael A. Taylor |
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Taylor with the Washington Nationals in 2018
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| Chicago White Sox – No. 21 | |||
| Center fielder | |||
| Born: March 26, 1991 Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 12, 2014, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Michael Anthony Taylor (born March 26, 1991) is an American professional baseball player. He is a center fielder for the Chicago White Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is known for his amazing defensive skills and has played for several MLB teams.
Taylor was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2009 and made his big league debut in 2014. He was a key player on the Nationals team that won the 2019 World Series. In 2021, he won a Gold Glove Award, which is given to the best defensive player at each position.
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Early Life and School
Taylor's father was an officer in the U.S. Army for 22 years, so he grew up in a military family. He has four older sisters.
He went to Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was a star on the baseball team. One of his high school teammates was Matt den Dekker, who later played with him on the Washington Nationals.
Professional Baseball Career
Washington Nationals
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Washington Nationals picked Taylor in the sixth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. Instead of going to college, he decided to become a professional player. He started in the minor leagues in 2010. At first, he played infield positions like shortstop and second base.
After a hand injury, the team decided to move him to the outfield. In 2011, he started playing as a center fielder. This new position was a great fit for him. His hitting also improved, and by 2013, he was named the Player of the Year for his minor league team, the Potomac Nationals.
Making it to the Majors (2014)
On August 12, 2014, Taylor was called up to play for the Washington Nationals. In his very first game against the New York Mets, he got his first major league hit. Later in the same game, he hit his first major league home run.
He was part of a special moment on the last day of the regular season. He was playing center field when his teammate, pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, threw the first no-hitter (a game where the other team gets no hits) in Nationals history.
First Full Season (2015)
In 2015, Taylor became a regular player for the Nationals. On May 13, he hit a grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded) to win a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Later that year, he hit one of the longest home runs of the entire MLB season. The ball traveled an amazing 493 feet at Coors Field in Colorado. He also hit a walk-off home run, which is a home run that ends the game, against the Atlanta Braves.
A Challenging Year (2016)
The 2016 season was difficult for Taylor. He struggled with his hitting and was sent back to the minor leagues for a short time. He returned to the Nationals but mostly played as a backup outfielder. He finished the season with seven home runs and 16 stolen bases.
Comeback Season (2017)
Taylor bounced back in 2017. After the team's starting center fielder got injured, Taylor took over and had a great year. He played with more power and consistency.
On September 8, 2017, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam. This is a rare play where a batter hits a grand slam but runs all the bases without the ball leaving the ballpark. In the playoffs that year, he hit another grand slam against the Chicago Cubs, the first in Nationals' postseason history.
Changes and a Championship (2018–2019)
In 2018, Taylor's playing time was reduced. He worked hard with the team's hitting coach to improve his swing.
His hard work paid off. In 2019, he was part of the Nationals team that made it to the 2019 World Series. In Game 2 of the World Series, he hit a home run in his very first at-bat. The Nationals went on to win the championship, making Taylor a World Series champion.
Final Year in Washington (2020)
In the short 2020 season, Taylor played in 38 games for the Nationals. After the season, he became a free agent, which meant he could sign with any team.
Kansas City Royals (2021–2022)
In 2021, Taylor signed with the Kansas City Royals. He had an outstanding defensive season and won his first Gold Glove Award. This award recognized him as the best defensive center fielder in the American League. He led all center fielders with 11 assists, which is when a fielder throws the ball to get a runner out.
He played for the Royals again in 2022, hitting nine home runs in 124 games.
Minnesota Twins (2023)
The Royals traded Taylor to the Minnesota Twins for the 2023 season. With the Twins, he had a career-high 21 home runs. After the season, he became a free agent again.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2024)
For the 2024 season, Taylor signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in 113 games for the team before he was released in September.
Chicago White Sox (2025)
In February 2025, Taylor signed a contract to play for the Chicago White Sox.
Personal Life
He is married to his wife, Brianna.
