DRB Prospect Review: #6 Brayden Taylor

The 2023 first rounder has performed quite well

Over the offseason, the Draybay community takes part in an exercise in which we compile a list of 30 prospects in the Rays system based on popular vote.

Now that the 2024 season has concluded, we can look back at these rankings and see how each individual player performed.

Reminder, this is a review of the prospects ranked heading into the 2024 season. This is not an updated ranking. Draysbay will begin the voting for the 2025 community top prospects later this offseason.

We have already covered the following:

• #30. Erick Lara.
• #29. Kenny Piper
• #28. Tanner Murray
• #27. Jacob Lopez
• #26. Marcus Johnson
• #25. Cole Wilcox
• #24. Dru Baker
• #23. Trevor Martin
• #22. Joe Rock
• #21. Ian Seymour
• #20. Tre’ Morgan
• #19. Brailer Guerrero
• #18. Jose Urbina
• #17. Mason Auer
• #16. Adrian Santana
• #15. Chandler Simpson
• #14. Osleivis Basabe
• #13. Mason Montgomery
• #12. Austin Shenton
• #11. Colton Ledbetter
• #10. Santiago Suarez
• #9. Dominic Keegan
• #8. Jonny DeLuca
• #7. Yoniel Curet

We resume the reviews at #6.

6. Brayden Taylor

Before the Season

21 | BT: L/R | 6’ 0” | 180

RK-A | .242/.361/.517 (.878 OPS, 141 wRC+ in A) 108 PA, 5 HR, 11 SB

Taylor has the makings of a major league regular at second or third base, with a consistent hit tool to all fields (despite a pull happy swing) that should carry him to the majors with ease. He signed for $3.9 million after being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, and evaluators are interested to see how much power he will add as a professional, and if he’ll maintain his defensive range as he matures. In the meantime, his plus arm gives him a third base projection.

How it Went

Brayden Taylor helped to make the High-A Hot Rods must see baseball as he and a team of top prospects put on daily shows. For his part, Taylor hit for power, got on base, and stole plenty of bases. Taylor finished the season as the High-A league leader in slugging percentage and wRC+. Taylor received a late season promotion to Double-A, where he struggled to handle the more advanced pitching as his K% ballooned; however, he did manage to be above average offensively thanks to a .241 ISO.

Final 2024 Statline:

A+: .269/.389/.513 | 14 HR | 26 SB | 24.8 K% | 15.9 BB% | 154 wRC+ | 383 PA
AA: .194/.290/.435 | 6 HR | 3 SB | 36.8 K% | 12.0 BB% | 113 wRC+ | 125 PA