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Will Taylor (baseball)

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Will Taylor
Pittsburgh Pirates
Outfielder
Born: (2003-01-10) January 10, 2003 (age 21)
Columbia, South Carolina
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

William Edward Taylor (born January 10, 2003) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played quarterback and wide receiver for the Clemson football team.

Early life and high school

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Taylor grew up in Irmo, South Carolina and originally attended Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina, where he played baseball and football. He batted .432 with 38 hits in his sophomore baseball season.[1] Taylor passed for 1,647 yards while also rushing for 1,549 yards as a junior.[2] Taylor transferred to Dutch Fork High School in his hometown prior to his senior year.[3] He completed 136-of-203 passes for 2,237 yards and 21 touchdowns with four interceptions and gained 448 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns on 60 carries as Dutch Fork won the Class 5A state championship.[4] In his senior baseball season, Taylor batted .450 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs and 34 runs scored and was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.[5][6] Taylor committed to play college baseball at Clemson during his junior year at the Ben Lippen School and pledged to also play football at the school during his senior football season.[7]

Taylor was considered a potential first round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft.[8] He was selected in the 19th round by the Texas Rangers after he stated his desire to play football at Clemson and opted not to sign.[9]

College career

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Taylor playing football for Clemson in 2021

Taylor entered Clemson as a quarterback with the expectation that he would move to the wide receiver position after his freshman season.[10] He was named the Tigers' primary punt returner going into the 2021 season.[11] Taylor received significant playing time for the first time on September 11, 2021, in a 49–3 win against South Carolina State, rushing for 20 yards and returning three punts for 53 yards.[12] Taylor suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Tigers' fifth game of the season against Boston College.[13]

Taylor missed the beginning of his freshman baseball season due to his knee injury. He began playing with the team in May.[14] Taylor finished the season with a .260 batting average and 14 runs scored in 13 games played.[15] After the season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Greeneville Flyboys of the Appalachian League.[16]

Taylor played in ten games during his sophomore football season and caught five passes for 16 yards and one touchdown and returned ten punts for 20 yards as the Tigers won the 2022 ACC Championship Game.[17] He missed four games after suffering a minor knee injury. In baseball, Taylor batted 362 with 79 hits, 16 doubles, five home runs, 46 RBIs and 11 stolen bases and became the first Clemson athlete to win ACC championships in football and baseball in the same academic year since 1989.[18] During the following summer, Taylor announced he would be giving up football to focus solely on baseball going into his junior year.[19]

In 2023, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[20]

Professional career

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Taylor was drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates in the 5th round, with the 145th overall selection, of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.[21] He signed with the Pirates on July 26, 2024, and received an overslot signing bonus of $500,000.[22] Taylor was assigned to the Bradenton Marauders of the Single-A Florida State League to begin his professional career.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Clemson Baseball: Ben Lippen's Will Taylor commits". The State. July 30, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Clemson football: SC prospect Will Taylor offered by Tigers". The Charlotte Observer. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Raynor, Grace (September 16, 2021). "Will Taylor chose Clemson over Major League Baseball — and the Tigers keep finding ways to use him on the football field". The Athletic. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "2021 MLB Draft: Dutch Fork Will Taylor to stay at Clemson". The State. July 13, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "Dutch Fork standout, Clemson signee earns SC's top baseball honor". The Charlotte Observer. June 29, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "Clemson or pro baseball? Looming choice adds unique layer to 2021 for Dutch Fork star". The State. June 18, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Kornblut, Phil (October 5, 2020). "Clemson football adds Dutch Fork quarterback already committed to Tigers for baseball". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Clemson QBs Chandler, Taylor set for first round of MLB Draft". The State. July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  9. ^ Stevenson, Stefan (July 15, 2021). "Rangers draft 13 pitchers, take flyer on dual-sport Taylor". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Will Taylor adds instant depth in Clemson's quarterback room". The Greenville News. July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "The legend of Clemson freshman Will Taylor (aka 'Maverick')". The Post and Courier. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Womack, Chris (September 16, 2021). ""Maverick" filling multiple roles for Clemson during freshman season". WLOS.com. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Raynor, Grace (October 5, 2021). "Clemson's Will Taylor, who passed on MLB Draft, out for rest of season: Source". The Athletic. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Clemson's Will Taylor, injured in football, makes baseball debut". The Greenville News. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  15. ^ Vandervort, Will (August 8, 2022). "Swinney Excited to Coach Clemson WR Will Taylor". SI.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "Flyboys Kick Off 2022 Season Thursday". The Greeneville Sun. June 1, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Weinstein, Robbie (May 31, 2023). "Clemson's Will Taylor, a baseball and football standout, makes ACC history ahead of the 2023 NCAA Tournament". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Will Taylor hangs up Clemson football cleats, will focus on baseball in 2023-24". Post and Courier. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "Two-sport athlete Will Taylor to leave Clemson football to pursue baseball full-time". The Greenville News. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "#17 Will Taylor". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  21. ^ Carter, Derrian (July 15, 2024). "Clemson baseball's Will Taylor picked by Pittsburgh Pirates in Round 5 of 2024 MLB Draft". greenvilleonline.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "Pirates Sign Five Picks From the 2024 MLB Draft, Including Fifth Rounder Will Taylor". piratesprospects.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  23. ^ Zinzarella, Thomas (August 15, 2024). "Taylor's Grand Slam Not Enough, Blue Jays Win Late for Second Consecutive Night". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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