Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Taylor will head to Omaha to start the 2023 campaign after appearing in 10 spring training contests, producing a .400 average with two homers, seven RBI, five runs and three stolen bases over 20 at-bats. After the impressive showing in the Cactus League, the 24-year-old certainly increased his chances of getting his first major-league call-up at some point this season. Considering Taylor can play both the infield and the outfield, he seems likely to be a long-term option for Kansas City.
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Royals' Samad Taylor: Steals home Wednesday
Rotowire
Taylor went 1-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases and a run scored in Wednesday's Cactus League win over the Rockies.
Taylor didn't start the contest, but he made a strong impact. One of his steals came in the ninth inning when he stole home for the Royals' fifth run of the frame. The 24-year-old is 3-for-9 over four spring games so far, and he's showing off his speed with a triple and two steals to go with two RBI. He's logged 123 steals over his last four minor-league seasons, though he didn't play with Triple-A Omaha following his trade from the Blue Jays' organization as part of the Whit Merrifield trade last summer. Taylor faces an uphill battle for a major-league job in 2023, but solid contact hitting and flashes of speed could at least earn him a bench spot at some point.
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Royals' Samad Taylor: Kansas City selects contract
Rotowire
Taylor had his contract selected from Triple-A Omaha by the Royals on Thursday.
The 24-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline from Toronto as part of the return for Whit Merrifield. Taylor played in 70 games at Triple-A last season and had a .258/.337/.426 slash line with nine home runs, 45 RBI and 23 steals.
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Royals' Samad Taylor: Going to KC in Merrifield return
Rotowire
Taylor was traded from the Blue Jays to the Royals on Tuesday along with Max Castillo in exchange for Whit Merrifield, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Taylor is a likely utility player, but he could get more of a look with the Royals than he would have in Toronto. The 24-year-old second baseman hit .258/.337/.426 with nine home runs and 23 steals in 70 games this year at Triple-A.
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Blue Jays' Samad Taylor: Breakout year in Double-A
Rotowire
Taylor is hitting .318/.398/.617 with 12 homers, 30 RBI, 16 steals and 41 runs across 41 games for Double-A New Hampshire.
A former 10th-round pick by Cleveland, the 22-year-old Taylor has largely flown under the radar in the minors. He stole 44 bags for Class-A Lansing in 2018, but this power is new -- he's already hit more homers this year than in any previous season. As is the trend in baseball today, it's clear he's selling out a little to do that, as his strikeout rate is up too and his typically excellent walk rate is down a bit. Taylor's .420 BABIP suggests his average will come down, but his positional versatility and well-rounded skill set point to a future as a solid -- and potentially fantasy-relevant -- utility player.
