Chris Taylor Recently Worked With Dodgers’ Hitting Coaches; ‘Right Now My Swing Feels Good’
Dodgers super utilityman Chris Taylor recently discussed his notoriously fickle swing with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain.
I always tinker with my mechanics a lot. I know that it’s very important for me to get that right in order for me to have success. I feel really good where I am right now. I’ve been working hard with our hitting coaches all offseason, and I’m confident going into spring training… Right now my swing feels good.
— Chris Taylor to Doug McKain
Known as a streaky hitter, Taylor has spoken openly amid past struggles about how complex his swing can get. When he feels right, he looks like one of the best hitters on the planet. When playing through injury or when something feels off, he can go into a bit of a cold streak.
Take last season. As late as May 27, his batting average was below .200, his on-base percentage was below .250, and his OPS was below .700.
A 3-for-3 game in Tampa Bay cured all that. From that point on, Taylor slashed a respectable .260/.365/.411. His playing time increased in August and September, which coincided with his best output of the season: a .273 average. .389 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases in 45 games (33 starts).
If Taylor can carry that degree of performance over into 2024, he can be a solid contributor to a stacked Dodger lineup.
The 33-year-old utilityman is entering his 11th major league season. His primary value lies with his versatile defense; Taylor played all over the field last year and made several appearances as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
While not an everyday starter like Freddie Freeman or Mookie Betts, Taylor still gets plenty of playing time. Last year, he appeared in 117 games, his fewest in a season since arriving in Los Angeles in a 2016 trade.
In 2024, the team will turn to Taylor to continue filling his role as a utility player. He will likely get playing time as a right-handed complement to left-handed hitting outfielders James Outman and Jason Heyward. Taylor is also an option to spell Gavin Lux at shortstop and giving other starters a break in the infield.
If Taylor’s swing is in a good place, that can only help him provide a spark to the lineup early in the season – a timely reminder to fans of why he’s an invaluable part of the team.
Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
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Your insights were very enlightening. Here’s a link to additional resources that complement your analysis
My advice to Chris Taylor: QUIT TINKERING!!!!
Every successful hitter will tell you to be consistent. Also, cut down on your swing a little. That all or nothing approach might get you some homers but it also causes a lot of strikeouts. Show you can be coached an do what your coaches and advisors at Driveline told you, A better batting average and driving in men on base is more important than solo home runs…