Washington Nationals: Has outfielder Michael Taylor won a starting job in 2018?
By Tim Boyle
The Washington Nationals’ 2017 campaign ended with a disappointing loss to the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS. Fortunately, outfielder Michael Taylor put together a very productive series and may have already won a starting job in 2018.
What will the 2018 Washington Nationals outfield look like? For sure, Bryce Harper plays in right field and Adam Eaton fill in at one of the other two spots. Most likely, it’s left field for Eaton.
This leaves the Nationals to search for a center fielder. After the year he put together and the postseason series he had against the Chicago Cubs, it looks like Michael Taylor is the answer.
Taylor played a lot more than anyone expected in 2017. Eaton’s season-ending injury at the end of April forced the Nationals to use the once valued prospect as the primary center fielder. The 26-year-old made the most of every opportunity.
In 432 plate appearances, Taylor hit .271/.320/.486. He smacked 19 home runs while providing the Nationals with very good defense. It appeared as if Taylor finally reached those lofty expectations scouts put on his plate years ago.
Previous to this season, MLB pitchers got the best of Taylor. In his 791 plate appearances prior, Taylor slashed .228/.281/.363. He barely made the Nationals’ Opening Day roster. If not for the schedule allowing the Nationals to begin the year with four starters, Taylor would have probably began the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Although he didn’t hit very well when Eaton was healthy, Taylor was right there and ready to contribute almost immediately.
Throughout the season, Dusty Baker could count on Taylor to produce. In the five postseason games, he was the lone Nationals hitter that did much of anything. Taylor hit two big home runs for Washington while delivering a .333/.444/.733 batting line. Cubs pitchers held the rest of the offense at bay. Only Taylor kept up.
It would seem that there is no one better suited than Taylor to start in center field for the Nationals next season.