Never Count Out Tyrone Taylor

Since he was a second round pick in 2012 (yes, over a decade ago), Taylor has been the rare player to have both been overrated and underrated. What do I mean by that? As a second round pick, prospect lists loved him in his first few years in the system (thus the overrating). After he got older, he was overlooked (thus the underrating). 

It's easy to forget that Taylor was, for all intents and purposes, nearly out of the Brewers' plans in 2019. At the age of 25, he'd just completed the minor league season without receiving a call to the September roster (roster expansion was then up to 40 players). He had just completed an interview with FedEx for an offseason job. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, the Brewers were fighting for a roster spot. Their outfield depth was being tested. With Trent Grisham already having been brought up unexpectedly, Milwaukee now had Ryan Braun and Lorenzo Cain going through injuries of their own, so they made the call to Taylor. He'd go 4 for 10 in 15 games, mostly serving as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. The Brewers didn't last long in the playoffs that year (remember Grisham's fielding mishap against Washington?) but Taylor made an impression. 

In 2020, he played sparingly at times for the Brewers, and again it looked like he would be a roster casualty. However, he made the team in 2021 and hit 12 homers in 93 games. 2022 was a real breakthrough, as he played semi-regularly (120 G, 373 AB, 21 doubles, 3 triples, 17 homers, 51 RBI, .233/.286/.442). 

This spring, Taylor's status had been in question since he received a PRP injection in February in an effort to avoid Tommy John surgery. He came back in May, and didn't hit at all (.160 in 75 first-half at-bats). He got sent back to the minors on rehab, and came back up at the end of June. Through July, he was just 3 for 21 and once again it seemed that the chapter of Taylor might be over. Once again, Taylor is proving everyone wrong.

Taylor has heated up in August, as have the Brewers. For a team that desperately needed both someone to step up in their outfield as well as their lineup against lefties, the man has stepped up. Through games of August 30th, Taylor has played 22 games, 59 at-bats, 13 runs, 16 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 11 RBI, .271/.339/.542. It's been quite possibly the best stretch of his career to date.

This is the Tyrone Taylor the Milwaukee Brewers need. Can he keep it up as the pennant race continues? Don't count him out.