Brewers 2021 Report Card: Tyrone Taylor

Our 2021 Season Report Cards Continue. Today, we’re taking a look at one of our outfielders, Tyrone Taylor.

It truly was a stand-out season for the outfielder, Tyrone Taylor.

Seeing the offensive struggles of Christian Yelich, it was up to someone to hopefully step it up and be a contributor to the lineup. After bouncing back and forth in both 2019 and 2020, it was nice to finally see Tyrone Taylor get the valued playing time he deserved.

Defensive Grade: B+

Taylor started 57 games in the outfield, a total of 526 innings (230.1 LF, 183.1 RF, 112.1 CF). While he may have started those games, more times than not, it was because players were injured. It really became a situation for Tyrone Taylor where he would play when a key player went down.

One thing that really held Taylor back from being that everyday player, was the fact that most of the guys in front of him had respected careers under their belts. Lorenzo Cain being a .300 career hitter, JBJ with a Gold Glove and an ALCS MVP, Yelich with a Gold Glove and an NL MVP award, and Garcia proved that he could be an all-star.

It was kind of difficult to truly give Tyrone Taylor a defensive grade; The plays he made weren’t highlight reel worthy compared to his teammates Lorenzo Cain and JBJ. He ended the season, according to Fangraphs with 7 total defensive runs saved. However, with Avisail Garcia recently electing free agency, it opens up the opportunity for that everyday role for Taylor.

It’ll be interesting to see what 2022 brings for the crew. With recent decisions made, the Brewers’ outfield looks like Yelich in left, Cain in center, and Bradley Jr in left. Yet, if the crew wanted to work out a platoon setting, Taylor bats right-handed, and JBJ is a lefty. This means that they could work out an outfield situation depending on the starting pitching for that game. But whatever happens, it’s likely fans will see Tyrone Taylor in the lineup more often than not.

Offensive Grade: A-

It came as a surprise when Tyrone Taylor didn’t make the major league roster coming out of Spring Training. Taylor reported to training in possibly the best shape of his career; He was ready to work. Since he has a minor league option remaining, he bounced back and forth between Milwaukee and Nashville.

In 2019 and 2020, Tyrone Taylor spent little time playing in the big leagues. He made his major league debut in September of 2019, but didn’t see much playing time after that. In 2021, however, he put together an amazing rookie season. In 93 games, Taylor posted a slashline of .247/.321/.457/.778, driving in 43, and hit 12 homers.

Taylor has come up in the clutch moments; On May 9, he hit a go-ahead single, helping in the win over the Miami Marlins. He also hit his two career grand slams this season: The first one being against the Chicago White Sox on July 23, helping the crew win 7-1.

Electric. pic.twitter.com/rOWGv0q29u

— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2021

His second one would come exactly two months later on September 23 against the St. Louis Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright. He also would homer against Wainwright in that same game.

The only thing better than a first inning grand slam is hearing Bob Uecker call it. #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/JBfwe1GfcV

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 23, 2021

Taylor was apart of the National League Central Division winning team, and didn’t see much playing time in the postseason. He played in two games in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, but didn’t get the valued playing time he should’ve gotten.

Overall, Tyrone Taylor delivered a season that no one expected him to have. He deserves a permanent roster spot, and it’ll be exciting to see him in the 2022 season.

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