Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Taylor flew under the radar as a Utah high schooler but has developed significantly at Texas Christian, setting the stage for him to become the program's first-ever first-round position player. He doesn't feature a true plus tool but does a little bit of everything and has performed well everywhere he has gone. The Big 12 Conference freshman of the year and a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2021, he played for the U.S. collegiate national team last summer. 

Using a sweet left-handed swing and fine bat-to-ball skills, Taylor makes repeated contact to all fields. He's not afraid to work deep counts and controls the strike zone well. Though he has sacrificed some batting average while looking to pull and drive more balls this spring, he demonstrated increased power and set TCU records for single-season (23) and career (48) home runs. 

An average runner, Taylor has played mostly third base for the Horned Frogs and provides solid defense at the hot corner with arm strength to match. He also has seen action at second base and shortstop, and while he lacks typical middle-infield quickness, his instincts help him make plays there. He's younger and more projectable than most college hitters, so he could continue to get better. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Undrafted out of his Utah high school, Taylor went to Texas Christian University and developed into the program’s first-ever position player selected in the first round. A well-rounded infielder without the loud tools of his fellow top prospects in the system, Taylor’s bat stood out as he finished with double-digit home runs, a batting average north of .300 and an OPS higher than 1.000 in each of his three collegiate seasons. The Rays selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 Draft and signed him for a slot-value bonus of $3,880,100. 

Taylor’s ability to hit is his carrying tool, as he features a sweet left-handed swing with excellent bat-to-ball skills. He uses the entire field, controls the strike zone and rarely chases outside the zone. He’s willing to work deep counts but since he’s more of a hitter with power than a power hitter, he sacrificed some batting average while looking to pull and drive more balls near the end of his time at TCU. That trend followed him into the Rays’ system, as he hit just .242 with a 31.5 percent strikeout rate, but he managed 12 extra-base hits (including five homers) in his 25-game professional debut.

Taylor is an average runner and a solid defender. He is probably best suited for third base, where he spent most of his time in college, but he’ll play some shortstop in his full-season debut. He’s not the quickest player in the field, but he has the instincts and arm to make it work on the left side of the infield. The Rays were quickly impressed by Taylor’s makeup, and while he likely won’t wow you with any one tool, his overall value and high floor put him near the top of a system loaded with infield prospects.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Taylor flew under the radar as a Utah high schooler but has developed significantly at Texas Christian, setting the stage for him to become the program's first-ever first-round position player. He doesn't feature a true plus tool but does a little bit of everything and has performed well everywhere he has gone. The Big 12 Conference freshman of the year and a Cape Cod League All-Star in 2021, he played for the U.S. collegiate national team last summer. The Rays selected Taylor with the 19th overall pick this July and signed him for slot money at $3,880,100. 

Using a sweet left-handed swing and fine bat-to-ball skills, Taylor makes repeated contact to all fields. He's not afraid to work deep counts and controls the strike zone well. Though he has sacrificed some batting average while looking to pull and drive more balls this spring, he demonstrated increased power and set TCU records for single-season (23) and career (48) home runs. 

An average runner, Taylor played mostly third base for the Horned Frogs and provides solid defense at the hot corner with arm strength to match. He also saw action at second base and shortstop, and while he lacks typical middle-infield quickness, his instincts help him make plays there. He's younger and more projectable than most college hitters, so he could continue to get better.

Awards

Baseball America High Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

SAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/30/2024	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to Montgomery Biscuits from Bowling Green Hot Rods.
	07/30/2024	Montgomery Biscuits activated SS Brayden Taylor.
	04/02/2024	Bowling Green Hot Rods activated SS Brayden Taylor.
	04/02/2024	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods.
	03/13/2024	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to Tampa Bay Rays.
	03/07/2024	Tampa Bay Rays Prospects activated SS Brayden Taylor.
	08/09/2023	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to Charleston RiverDogs from FCL Rays.
	08/04/2023	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to FCL Rays.
	07/21/2023	Tampa Bay Rays signed SS Brayden Taylor.
	02/05/2023	3B Brayden Taylor assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	07/02/2022	USAB Stars Team activated SS Brayden Taylor.
	07/01/2022	SS Brayden Taylor and assigned to College Workout.
	02/06/2022	3B Brayden Taylor and assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	02/01/2021	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.
	02/01/2021	SS Brayden Taylor assigned to TCU Horned Frogs.