Alabama Outfielder Chandler Taylor Selected by Houston Astros in Round 10 of 2018 MLB Draft
Alabama outfielder Chandler Taylor was selected in the 10th round (pick 312 overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft, going to the Houston Astros as a left fielder. Taylor was the second player taken in this year’s draft from the 2017-18 Crimson Tide roster, joining Jake Walters who was drafted in the ninth round earlier this afternoon.
A power bat, Taylor finished the 2018 campaign with a team-high 13 home runs to rank eighth in the Southeastern Conference during the regular season. The junior paced the Crimson Tide with 38 walks to tie for fifth in the conference, while totaling 20 in league play.
Taylor wrapped up his sophomore season as the team leader in seven offensive categories including: home runs (16), RBI (34), runs (39), walks (32), stolen bases (7-11), slugging percentage (.601) and total bases (113). His numbers also placed him among league leaders, ranking third in home runs, fifth in slugging and ninth overall in total bases during the regular season. The Montgomery, Ala., native’s numbers earned him Second Team All-SEC recognition as an outfielder at season’s end.
He shined in his first year at Alabama, earning All-SEC Freshman Team honors in the outfield after starting all 56 games he played in, including 29 against SEC competition. Taylor recorded nine home runs to rank second on the Tide while adding a team-high 40 walks. In SEC action, he led the Tide in average (.295), RBI (25), extra-base hits (16), total bases (63), walks (24), slugging (.600) and on-base (.435) percentage.
A three-year starter at Alabama, Taylor has been a force in the Crimson Tide lineup. He has totaled 38 career home runs to tie for ninth all-time at UA while collecting 102 RBI and adding 101 runs scored during three years with the Crimson Tide. The left-handed slugger also ranks sixth at UA for career walks with 110 to his name.
The 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft began on Monday evening and will continue through Wednesday.
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