Samad Sinks SoCal Sluggers
KC Royals rookie, Samad Taylor’s first major league hit came on the form of a walkoff single on Saturday as Kansas City beat the Los Angeles Angels, 10-9, to snap a 10-game losing streak.
MLBbro World Series Champion Lorenzo Cain Retires As A Kansas City Royals Legend | LoCain Drove Em’ Insane In 2014-15 Postseasons
LoCain retired from MLB after a solid career and Charles Nyonga wants to give the MLBbro a proper goodbye Cain’s career stats include a .283 batting average with 87 home runs and 454 RBI, but he elevated his play in helping the Kansas City Royals reach back-to back World Series in 2014 and 2015.
MLBbro Jackie Bradley Jr. Brings Championship Pedigree To Young But Talented Kansas City Royals
Malik Wright is ‘Live On Tape At the Ball Park’ again with veteran #MLBbro and super web master Jackie Bradley Jr. about his latest MLB stint as a member of the upstart Kansas City Royals
MLBbro Michael A. Taylor On the Move From Kansas City To Minnesota In Offseason Deal
In offseason baseball news, World Series champion and outfielder Michael A. Taylor has been traded by the Kansas City Royals to the Minnesota Twins for pitching prospects Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz. This will be the third team for the World Series champion. He played the last two seasons with the Royals after seven with the Washington Nationals.
While being widely known as an immaculate defensive player, his .254/.313/.357 hitting slash with nine home runs and 43 RBI last season shows that his offense will be helpful for the Twins as well next year. MLBbro.com was monitoring his improvement on the offensive side last year starting with a hot start on opening day as MLBro.com content writer Malik Wright covers here…
Taylor is primarily a center fielder and a smart investment plan to back up fellow MLBbro Byron Buxton whose injuries have hampered him to the point that he has not played more than 92 games but once in his career. Michael A. Taylor’s presence will play a big part in the franchise’s overall resting program for Buxton which brought criticism from the fans last season.
Michael A. Taylor An All-Around Player
Taylor came into his own on offense back in 2017, hitting .271 with 19 dingers, knocking in 53 runs with an impressive OPS of .806. But his 2021 Gold Glove winning efforts gives Minnesota three outfielders on the roster with Gold Glove awards in Byron “Big Bux” Buxton (2017) and Joey Gallo (2020 and 2021).
Even though, reports consider Taylor a fourth outfielder and insurance policy for Buxton, we should see him plenty next season. He’s too good for the Twins to waste him on the bench. His ability to get a good read and jump on balls and be able to climb walls to rob extra base hits and homers placed him in the top five outfield assists in the AL during his time in Kansas City over two years.
The Minnesota Twins have acquired maybe the best under the radar acquisition so far this offseason.
“He’s Got Great Feel, Great Instincts At Shortstop” | Royals Intrigued By 6-Foot-6 Rookie Austin Charles
When the Kansas City Royals drafted the rangy 6-foot-6 Austin Charles with the last pick of the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, many believed his high end was as a two-way star sort of in the mold of Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani.
But that seems to be pipe dream as the team plans to develop him strictly as a position player and not as a pitcher. Meaning he could become one of the tallest shortstops to ever take the infield of in a Major League game.
Charles nearly returned to college at UC Santa Barbara, but he and the Royals agreed right before the August 1 deadline. With the intriguing prospect in tow, the Royals are now focused on developing him into another in the growing trend of tall shortstops around MLB.
During a visit to the Royals training complex in Surprise, Arizona, Charles says he realized he was more than ready for professional baseball.
“The visit just opened my eyes to see what they’re doing. I knew it was a good organization and fit.”
Ain’t too many cons when you playin’ with the pros🙌🏽
Let’s get to work @kcroyals @ Kansas City Royals https://t.co/dtHQd5wm5d
— Austin Charles (@AustinCharles25) July 30, 2022
Charles Is Part Of Growing Trend Of NBA-Size Shortstops
Playing shortstop requires great instincts and feel, and that’s something the Royals say Charles possesses. The team’s hitting coordinator Drew Saylor raved about the Charles’ abilities and traits he possesses.
“He’s got great feel, great instincts at shortstop, and Iove his internal clock. He does a really good job with his first-step reads and he creates pretty good angles for himself.”
Saylor also complimented Charles’ work ethic and resiliency for a young player.
Charles Has Captivating Raw Power
At 6-foot-6, with very long arms, Charles will have to learn to adjust to off-speed pitches. But with the proper plate work and development, Saylor believes they can get Charles to work a specific zone.
“Because he has that natural strength. He has the potential to be a guy who can possibly mishit balls and still hit them really, really, really far …. He’s just continuing to know where his swing plays, and just the small adaptations that are needed to different shapes in the strike zone.
Extended look at the defensive chops of Austin Charles (2022, Stockdale HS). Continutes to grow in to his long, 6'6" frame. Moves very well, especially for size w/ easy arm strength and quick release. @UCSB_Baseball commit#MLBDraft @PG_scouting @SoCalGiants pic.twitter.com/5yRzX8N9GZ
— Perfect Game California (@California_PG) July 2, 2022
“The most exciting part for me is just the curiosity and the energy he brings to the ballpark every day. It’s infectious,” Saylor added.
Charles hopes to follow in the footsteps of other tall shortstops like rising Pirates star Oneil Cruz, who stands 6-foot-7.
Royals have accumulated some nice pieces for the future, including second baseman Samad Taylor, whom Charles could team with to form a nice duo down the line.
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