Earlier in the week we learned that Will Taylor, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last fall, is closer to playing for Clemson baseball.
Streaking Tigers Head to Louisville With Will Taylor One Step Closer to Returning https://t.co/qcgtIH6ozj via @jp_priestersi
— Jason Priester (@JP_Priester) April 29, 2022
Though the specifics of when Taylor could be ready are not clear, Monte Lee says he’s inching closer.
"“We feel like he’s ready to put in there whenever physically he’s ready to go, so it’s going to be more of a decision on his part. But it’s getting close.”"
Taylor, drafted last summer by the Texas Rangers with the 544th pick, was widely projected as a potential first round pick if he had not informed teams of his desire to matriculate to Clemson to play both football and baseball as he was rated as high as the 22nd overall prospect.
Lee is obviously excited about such a talent becoming available at this point of the season, but the question is where Taylor would play for a Clemson team that’s won nine of it’s last twelve games when available?
Taylor is an outfielder by trade and for most of the season the Tigers have fielded the same outfield, but perhaps in a different order and defensive arrangements.
Recently Caden Grice has moved to centerfield in place of Dylan Brewer, but Brewer has seemingly found his swing and has regained a starting spot.
Tyler Corbitt has manned the DH role, while slashing .296/.347/.503 so that doesn’t seem like an obvious option either.
Left field has been a bit of a revolving door with Cooper Ingle seeing time there along with J.D. Brock and Chad Fairey, so that seems like a viable choice, if not the logical spot if Taylor is ready to play in the field as well as hit.
One thing for sure, if Taylor is ready to play he should be in the lineup as players with his talent don’t grow on trees.