This time a year ago, Michael A. Taylor was preparing to be the Opening Day center fielder for the Washington Nationals. Although top prospect Victor Robles was looming, Taylor had fully earned the starting job heading into 2018.
Taylor was coming off of a season in which he slashed .271/.320/.486 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases, before impressing in the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. Oh, and don’t forget about his trademark Gold Glove defense in center.
But the lofty stat line just papered over the cracks in his swing. His strikeout percentage was still north of 30 percent and it showed with an unsustainable .