Brayden Taylor brings speed and power to the Rays system
On the first night of the MLB Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays added a talented infielder to their system in the form of TCU third baseman Brayden Taylor. The Rays selected Taylor with the 19th overall pick and made history. Taylor became the first-ever TCU position player to be picked in the first round.
In each of his first three seasons as a Horned Frog, the Utah native finished with double-digit home runs, a batting average north of .300, and an OPS higher than 1.000. During the 2023 campaign, Taylor hit 23 home runs and drove in a career-high 70 runs. Despite his success, Taylor is always looking for ways to improve.
"Just continuing to work on my craft each and every day," Taylor said on a Zoom call with Tampa Bay media. "It's about being well-rounded in each and every aspect of my game."
As Taylor shifts his focus to his professional career, he is leaving behind an unforgettable legacy at TCU. While in Fort Worth, Taylor was named the 2023 Big 12 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 2022, he earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and played for the 2022 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team following the season. Due to his offensive ability, Taylor was constantly a threat at the plate and on the bases.
While the 19th overall pick made headlines with his bat, he is also solid in the field. Taylor can play multiple positions which is one trait the Rays value highly.
"I think he's a very versatile player in every way," scouting director Chuck Ricci said. "He can just do everything well. Very much a Rays player, very well-balanced."
In Taylor, the Rays added on the best college players available. He is not afraid of using all fields and controls the strike zone well. Taylor showed increased power in his final season at TCU by setting the program record in home runs. He also stole a career-high 14 bases.
While Taylor’s MLB debut is still years away, he has the potential to be a special player for the Rays.
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