Gull Alum Taylor Makes MLB Debut
July 30, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Newport Gulls News Release
NEWPORT, R.I. - On July 24, 2014, infielder Chris Taylor made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field against the Baltimore Orioles. Taylor, who started at shortstop and batted ninth, recorded his first big league hit against Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen in the fifth inning, officially becoming the eighth Newport Gull alumnus to play on a Major League Baseball team.
Taylor, who attended the University of Virginia, played in three games with the Newport Gulls in 2010. There, Taylor hit .364, hitting a double during his tenure with the Gulls. Taylor was the starting shortstop with the Virginia Cavaliers in his junior season, eventually getting drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
During his three seasons in the Mariners organization, Taylor enjoyed great success, being named a California League (A+) All-Star in 2013, and also being selected to play for the Pacific League (AAA) All-Star in 2014. He also tallied 165 hits between the High Desert Mavericks (A+) and Jackson Generals (AA) in 2013, which was eighth best across all of Minor League Baseball. Before getting called up by the Mariners, Taylor was hitting .328 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, and 63 runs scored.
Since getting called up to the Major Leagues, Taylor has played in four games, hitting .333 with two doubles and two RBIs. With his debut, Taylor became the eighth former Gull to play Major League Baseball, joining a group that includes Jason Szuminski, Chris Iannetta, Mitchell Boggs, Adam Wilk, Dan Otero, Jeff Beliveau, and Greg Garcia. He also joins Iannetta, Otero, and Beliveau as the only Gulls that are currently playing in the Majors.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2014
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