Background
Taylor was born to military parents. His father, Anthony Taylor, was a logistics officer for 22 years in the United States. Army.
Taylor was born to military parents. His father, Anthony Taylor, was a logistics officer for 22 years in the United States. Army.
Taylor was drafted in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2009 MLB draft by the Washington Nationals
Taylor has four older sisters. He was a high school teammate of Washington Nationals teammate Matt den Dekker while attending Westminster Academy. 2014 season
Taylor was added to the Washington Nationals" 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.
On August 10, 2014, Taylor was recalled by the Nationals when Steven Souza was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
On August 12, he made his Major League debut against the New York Mets in Citi Field, where he collected his first major league hit, a single off pitcher Rafael Montero. He also hit his first major league home run, a 2-run homer against pitcher Carlos Torres, that night.
Taylor was optioned back to the American Automobile Association Syracuse Chiefs on August 23, 2014, after the Nationals selected veteran Nate Schierholtz"s contract. 2015 season
Taylor opened the 2015 season as the Nationals" starting center fielder while Denard Spanish was on the disabled list.
Despite starting the season well by sporting a.279/2/8 batting line, he was optioned to Triple A Syracuse on April 19 to make room on the 25 man roster for Spanish
He was recalled on April 29 when Reed Johnson was placed on the disabled list. During an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 13, Taylor substituted for right-fielder Bryce Harper after Harper was ejected in the seventh inning. In his first at-bat in the ninth inning, he came up with the bases loaded for the first time in his career and hit a go-ahead grand slam, effectively clinching the game for the Nationals.
On August 20, 2015, Taylor hit what was the longest home run of the season to date, crushing a pitch from Colorado Rockies starter Yohan Flande an estimated 493 feet into the stands at Coors Field.
Taylor suffered a right knee injury on August 27 after slamming into the wall while attempting to run down a line drive off the bat of Melvin Upton, Junior., but he was healthy enough to make a pinch-hitting appearance in the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves on September 4. He hit a three-run home run for a walk-off victory over the visiting Braves.
On September 8, 2015, Taylor hit a little-league grand slam off of Mets pitcher, Matt Harvey after a bases-loaded single got by center fielder, Yoenis Cespedes and went to the wall.