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Why Michael Taylor Should Start 2016 With The Washington Nationals

By Ricky Keeler |
Mar 18, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (3) connects for a base hit during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (3) connects for a base hit during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With Taylor having a great spring, the Nats should not send him down, even though he will be a part-time player to start the year

 With a little over a week to go in spring training, the Washington Nationals will have to make some tough roster choices of who to take on the 25-man roster for Opening Day. However, one of the choices that should be easy for Dusty Baker and the front office is that Michael Taylor should be on the roster, even if it is not as a regular starter.

On Monday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network wrote in his notes column about the Nats’ outfield situation and how Taylor is stuck behind Ben Revere in center field and Jayson Werth, who still has two years and $42 million on his contract, in left field. Plus, Taylor does still have some minor league options:

“Then again, Taylor batted only .229 with a .640 OPS last season and 158 strikeouts in 511 plate appearances. He turns 25 on Saturday, and with minor-league options remaining, could start the season at Triple A.” (h/t Rosenthal, FOX Sports).

So far, Taylor has been one of the best hitters on the Nats this spring. In 14 games, he is hitting .485 (team lead) with three home runs (tied with Clint Robinson and Scott Sizemore), nine RBI’s (team lead), and a .514 on-base percentage (second behind Jhonatan Solano).

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It’s a much different spring for Taylor this year compared to last year when he started the spring without a starting spot until Denard Span had to have core muscle surgery. Even though Taylor doesn’t have a starting role again this year as of right now, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made a good impression on his new manager:

“We’re teaching him every day, because he’s going to be a star. It’s just sometimes you’ve got to wait your turn and sometimes you’ve got to take your turn.” (h/t James Wagner, Washington Post)

Even though triple-A wouldn’t be a horrible option for Taylor becaue he could play everyday and continue his development until an injury pops up and the Nats do have Matt den Dekker who can play all three outfield positions, Taylor has to be on the Major League roster, in my opinion.

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With Werth’s injury history, Taylor needs to be on the team as the fourth outfielder and he is going to be playing a lot this season because of his speed and his good defense in the outfield, whether it be in center field or in left field.

Taylor does need to cut down on the strikeouts, but his role is too pivotal, even with the options that he has, to have him begin the year at Syracuse. Even if it is as a defensive replacement for Werth or needing to steal a base late in the game, he adds to the Nats bench, if he’s not starting.

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While the Nats have tough decisions to make, this one should be easy that Taylor starts the season in the Nation’s Capital for the second straight season. If Taylor can keep his great stretch going into the season, he is eventually going to get more playing time as the year progresses.

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