Chris Taylor is officially calling it a career after a whirlwind weekend.
It was announced that the longtime utilityman would be retiring on Friday. Then, less than 24 hours later, it was reported that he had changed his mind and would not be retiring.
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On Sunday, he ended the confusion about his future and announced that he indeed would be retiring after 12 major-league seasons.
Taylor’s retirement was revealed in Friday’s MiLB transactions log. But on Saturday, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger reported that the utility man had reversed his decision and he was instead placed on the Minor League injured list with a fractured forearm.
On Sunday, Taylor officially cleared things up and decided to retire.
He was most recently with the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A Salt Lake affiliate and had compiled a slash average of .255/.382/.321 with seven doubles in 132 plate appearances this season.
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Taylor’s initial announcement of his retirement was real. It was not only reported by the league but acknowledged on social media by MLB, with fans and media posting several tributes to his accomplishments.
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Taylor’s best season was in 2017, when he batted .288/.354/.496 with 21 home runs, 34 doubles, 72 RBI and 17 stolen bases. As he did throughout his career, Taylor appeared all over the field for the Dodgers that season, playing 49 games in center field, 48 in left, 22 games at second base, 14 games at shortstop and eight at third base.
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He was a 2012 fifth-round selection by the Seattle Mariners out of Virginia and played three seasons in Seattle before being traded to the Dodgers in 2016 for pitcher Zach Lee. Taylor remained with the Dodgers for the next 10 seasons, re-signing with them as a free agent before he was finally released early in the 2025 season. Taylor signed with the Angels and played 30 games with a .179/.278/.321 slash average.
The standout moment of Taylor’s Dodgers career remains his walk-off home run off the St. Louis Cardinals‘ Alex Reyes to win the 2021 National League wild-card game.
In eight postseasons, Taylor hit .247 with a .792 OPS, 13 doubles, 9 homers and 26 RBI. That included the 2017 NLCS, when he shared MVP honors with Justin Turner, hitting .316 with a 1.248 OPS and two home runs.
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This adds another interesting chapter to the utility man’s résumé, but for now, it seems like the 35-year-old is done.