After going largely unnoticed out of high school, Brayden Taylor is seeking to become the first TCU position player to be drafted in the first round. On a list of alumni that includes Matt Carpenter, being the first one drafted in the first round would be a nice accomplishment. Taylor certainly has the tools and the makeup to do just that. Exactly where in the first round is yet to be determined.
TCU 3B Brayden Taylor has had an up-and-down year, but he's been hot in May. He's close to a lock to go in the first round in July. No. 24 on the @FSS_PLUS Top 500 prospects for the 2023 MLB Draft.
HR no. 19 here.
The Full List: https://t.co/8vzj72N3Dopic.twitter.com/RJfLX85Fgk
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) May 24, 2023
Brayden Taylor Draft Profile
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm : 55| Field: 55 | Overall: 50
Strengths
Batting from the left side, Brayden Taylor’s 55-grade hit tool is one of his biggest assets. He is very good at putting the bat on the ball and is capable of driving it to all fields. His eye and his patience at the plate allow him to work the count in his favor. Taylor is also not afraid to work a walk and pass the baton. Throughout his collegiate career, he has accrued 151 walks in 175 games. Add his .443 OBP to a .315 batting average and you get a player that projects to be a solid fixture near the top of a lineup.
In the field, Brayden has the arm strength to effectively man the hot corner, and the instincts to match. He is younger than most of the other college prospects entering the draft this year, so there could be more room for improvement across the board.
Weaknesses
With league-average rated power, Brayden Taylor projects as only a 15-20 homerun hitter in professional baseball. It has been something he has worked on in his junior season, but it has also cost him in the swing-and-miss department. Taylor set a career-low in walks this season with 47, while also setting a career-high in strikeouts with 49. These numbers are not detrimental to his development, but it is something to keep an eye on moving forward.
Taylor’s worst tool may be his speed. Despite only being caught stealing once in his collegiate career, he only has 37 steals to show for it. Over three years, 12 steals a season does not project well to the Major League level. Even with the newly expanded bases, you should expect a yearly average of eight or fewer steals from the otherwise talented third baseman.
MLB Player Comparison
After posting a career line of .315/.443/.600 with a higher walk rate than strikeout rate, the closest MLB player that would compare to Brayden Taylor is Alex Bregman. With Bregman’s entire career coming as part of the Houston Astros so far, he has definitely had his ups and downs. Bregman currently holds a career line of .275/.373/.490, but does have much more pop in his bat than Taylor. Brayden Taylor will have more gap-to-gap power, while Alex Bregman provides more longball power.
This year’s draft is extremely top-heavy. While Taylor is not a prospect one should glance over, he still projects to go in the mid-to-late first round, where he will be a solid top-of-the-lineup bat for years to come.
Main photo credits:
Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Brayden Taylor, Matt Carpenter, Alex Bregman
