WHITE SOX OUTFIELDER MICHAEL TAYLOR HANGS ‘EM UP
White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement today, ahead of the Sox facing the Nationals in Washington, a place he played for many years.
By Mel Miller
“To be able to play my last games of my career here in this ballpark in front of these fans, it’s just the icing on the cake,” Taylor said, per Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. He is in the lineup for the Sox today, playing center field and batting ninth, in what will be his final game.
Taylor, now 34, was a sixth-round pick of the Nationals back in 2009. He was a shortstop at that time, considered to be raw, but in possession of some elite tools. He was moved to the outfield and quickly showed the potential to be a strong defender. He also showed more pop with the bat as he climbed the ladder, hitting 23 homers in the minors in 2014.
Going into 2015, he was considered to be one of the top 100 prospects in the game. Baseball America gave him the #32 spot, MLB Pipeline had him at #42, Baseball Prospectus at #57 and ESPN at #71. FanGraphs was a bit more bearish, putting him at #133 on their top 200 list.
Establishing in Washington
That was a relatively strong campaign for him but he remained:
- Debuted in 2014, became more established in 2015 (138 games, 14 HR, 16 SB).
- Struggled with plate discipline — career walk rate 6.9%, strikeout rate 30.7%.
- Still provided value with defense, speed, and occasional pop.
- Served as a steady role player during the Nationals’ 2012–2019 playoff window.
Legacy
Michael Taylor’s career was defined by defense, speed, and timely power. While inconsistent at the plate, his glove made him one of the most reliable outfield defenders of his era, ranking among the top 10 in both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. His role in the Nationals’ 2019 championship run, particularly his postseason heroics, cements his place as a memorable contributor to Washington’s only World Series title.
The Announcement
Michael A. Taylor announced his retirement ahead of the White Sox facing the Washington Nationals, the club where he spent most of his career.
“To be able to play my last games of my career here in this ballpark in front of these fans, it’s just the icing on the cake,” Taylor said.
The 34-year-old was in the lineup one final time, starting in center field and batting ninth.
Career By the Numbers
Games: 1,215
Plate Appearances: 3,797
Hits: 806
Home Runs: 109
Stolen Bases: 128
Career Slash Line: .232/.287/.379
Defense: 90 Defensive Runs Saved, 61 Outs Above Average (2014–2025)
WAR: 10.2 (FanGraphs), 12.6 (Baseball Reference)
Career Earnings: $27M+
Get in Touch
Where luxury meets entertainment — let’s make it unforgettable.
Phone
+1 (312) 555-7890
Address
123 Casino Avenue, Entertainment District, Chicago, IL