The 25-year-old was promoted Friday with Ty France headed to the paternity list, and Taylor will return to Tacoma with France now back with the team. Taylor appeared in all three games in Milwaukee and went 2-for-5 with two runs and a strikeout.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Samad Taylor: Sees immediate action Friday
Rotowire
Taylor, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day, entered Friday's loss to the Brewers as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and remained in the game in left field. He went 1-for-2 with a run.
Taylor couldn't deliver in his pinch-hit at-bat, grounding out to first with two men on and the score knotted at 3-3. However, the speedy 25-year-old laced a single to center field in the ninth inning to help ignite a rally that fell just short. Friday's game marked Taylor's Mariners regular-season debut, and with the team in need of some offensive punch, there's a possibility his stay with the big-league club can extend beyond Ty France's paternity leave.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Samad Taylor: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma by the Mariners on Friday, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.
The 25-year-old could be up just for the weekend while Ty France is on paternity leave. Taylor has experience at every position other than first base, catcher and pitcher.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Samad Taylor: Optioned to Tacoma
Rotowire
The Mariners optioned Taylor to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
After struggling with the Royals last season, Taylor was able to put together a solid spring, slashing .273/.342/.485 with two homers and six RBI across 38 plate appearances. If Taylor is able to keep his bat hot as he moves to Tacoma, he could return to Seattle this summer as a utility player.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Samad Taylor: Solid spring continues Sunday
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-2 with a double, a stolen base and two runs in a Cactus League loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Taylor pushed his spring average to .286, a solid figure that's accompanied by Sunday's double, two home runs, four RBI, three steals and seven runs. The 25-year-old, a late-January trade acquisition, brings an eclectic skill set that includes some outstanding speed, and he seemingly doesn't have anything left to prove at the Triple-A level after slashing .282/.384/.448 with a 13.5 percent walk rate and modest 21.2 percent strikeout rate across 694 plate appearances there the last two seasons. However, Taylor doesn't make the projected Opening Day roster of Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, implying he could well begin the season at Triple-A Tacoma.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Samad Taylor: Acquired by Mariners
Rotowire
The Mariners acquired Taylor from the Royals on Monday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
It's already the third time the 25-year-old has been traded, as he went from the Guardians to the Blue Jays in the Joe Smith trade back in 2017 and from the Jays to the Royals in the Whit Merrifield deal in 2022. Taylor has elite speed and slashed .301/.418/.466 with eight homers and 43 steals at Triple-A Omaha in 2023. He swiped eight more bags in 31 games with Kansas City but hit only .200/.279/.267. Taylor can play all over the diamond and has options remaining.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Taylor has slashed only .200/.279/.267 over 31 games with the big club this season. The Royals haven't yet announced a corresponding move, but Nick Pratto (groin/hip) is expected back from the 10-day injured list any day.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Logs steal in loss
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Athletics.
Taylor had gone 0-for-9 at the plate across six games dating back to Aug. 6, though he's more often served as a late-game replacement recently. The 25-year-old is up to eight steals this season while slashing .185/.274/.241 with four RBI and 10 runs scored over 63 plate appearances. He'll continue to be an option at second base and in the outfield, but he's unlikely to command a starting role down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Picks up sixth steal
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Mets.
Five of Taylor's six steals in the majors this year have come over his last five games. The Royals are still trying to balance playing time among a number of young players and prospects, with Taylor getting looks at second base and in left field. Michael Massey, MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel appear to be most at risk of losing time if Taylor gets in the lineup more regularly.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Logs two steals in win
Rotowire
Taylor went 2-for-3 with a double, two stolen bases and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-inning win over the Mets.
Michael Massey is expected to benefit the most from Nicky Lopez getting traded to Atlanta, but it was Taylor getting a start at second base Tuesday. The 25-year-old made the most of the opportunity with his first career multi-hit game. Taylor is up to five steals over 16 contests, and he's added three RBI, five runs scored and a 6:11 BB:K through 44 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Taylor from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
With Nick Pratto (groin) landing on the injured list Friday, Taylor will come up from the minors to give Kansas City additional depth in the infield. Taylor's MLB numbers haven't been great since he debuted in June, but he's been scorching hot at Omaha in July, slashing .378/.545/.541 with eight steals in 12 games.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Picks up second steal
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers.
This was Taylor's first game action since he was recalled from Triple-A Omaha on July 9. The versatile 25-year-old started in left field Monday, but he's often served as a reserve option while in the majors this season. He's batting just .152 with two stolen bases, three RBI and three runs scored through 41 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Taylor is a talented prospect but hasn't found his footing during his short time in the majors, sporting just a .427 OPS in 13 contests. He's clearing out to make room for Edward Olivares' return.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Makes return to majors
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Taylor from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Taylor will be back for his second stint of the season with the Royals after he previously went 4-for-30 over a stretch of 12 games from June 17 to July 2 before he was sent back to Omaha. The rookie will likely see most of his playing time against left-handed pitching while he rejoins the 26-man active roster as a replacement for outfielder Edward Olivares (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
The writing had been on the wall, as Taylor's opportunities had become more and more scarce lately. Taylor batted just .133/.270/.133 during his first go-round in the big leagues and now will head back to Omaha, where he'll receive more seasoning and regular at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: On bench again Monday
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
After getting his first big-league call-up July 16, Taylor proceeded to start in seven of his first 10 games with the Royals, but his opportunities have since become more limited. In the subsequent seven contests, Taylor has started in just three times, and he'll head into Monday's series opener with a .133/.270/.133 slash line through his first 38 plate appearances in the majors. Given his struggles in addition to the fact that his playing time has been trending down, Taylor could soon be headed back to Triple-A Omaha.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: On bench for series opener
Rotowire
Taylor is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians.
Since his June 16 call-up from Triple-A, Taylor had started in left field or at second base in seven of the Royals' last 10 games, but he'll take a seat as Kansas City faces rookie right-hander Gavin Williams in the series opener with Cleveland. With Kyle Isbel (hamstring) returning from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Taylor's opportunities in left field could become more scarce moving forward, but Taylor should continue to battle Nicky Lopez for playing time at the keystone. With a .470 OPS through his first 28 big-league plate appearances, Taylor hasn't yet made a case for being a fixture in the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Snags first steal
Rotowire
Taylor went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Rays.
The speedy rookie racked up 34 steals in 62 games with Triple-A Omaha this season, but this was his first big-league theft. The 24-year-old has been up with the Royals for a week, going 3-for-17 with three walks, four strikeouts, two RBI and three runs scored over five contests. Taylor hasn't done enough for an everyday job, but he continues to fill in at second base and left field. He should have at least a short-side platoon role at the keystone while Michael Massey (hand) is out.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Promoted to big leagues
Rotowire
The Royals recalled Taylor from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
After slashing .301/.407/.460 through 291 plate appearances in Triple-A, Taylor will crack the big leagues for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old second baseman has proved to be a major threat on the basepaths with 34 steals already this season. Nate Eaton was optioned to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Samad Taylor: Not in lineup Friday
Rotowire
Taylor is not in the lineup Friday versus the Angels.
Taylor got called up from Triple-A Omaha on Friday afternoon, but his MLB debut may have to wait until later this weekend unless he comes off the bench Friday. The speedy 24-year-old could be an intriguing fantasy prospect if there's a regular role for him in Kansas City. He was sporting a .304/.409/.463 slash line with six homers and 34 steals through 62 games this season at Triple-A.
