How TCU’s Brayden Taylor manages personal expectations, MLB goals with CWS title hopes
Brayden Taylor wasn’t always in the spotlight.
Even when TCU coach Kirk Saarloos made a scouting trip to Phoenix to watch Taylor’s academy team’s games, the coach was there to watch Taylor’s teammate in the summer before his junior year of high school. But Taylor caught Saarloos’ unsuspecting eye, and after more scouting and an official visit, he was a Horned Frog.
Now, he’s the best hitter on a Big 12 championship team playing in Omaha and the No. 16 player on analyst Keith Law’s rankings for the upcoming MLB draft.
How does Taylor handle the spotlight and juggling the pressure of personal and team success now?
“TCU prepares you for that,” Taylor said. “We’ve trained for moments like these.”
Earlier this season, Taylor slumped like he never had before. He went 9-for-62 in a month’s span, lowering his batting average to .233. When you’re a top prospect, opposing teams game plan around you.
The infield shift is still allowed in college baseball, and as a left-handed hitter, Taylor faced it. But like other adversities throughout his career, Taylor used it as a learning experience.
“When there’s so much video out on you now, and every game is charted, and there’s programs that show that if you play your defense in a certain way he’ll hit this way,” Saarloos said. “His first year those ground balls that were hits are now outs. It was no longer about getting a good pitch to hit. You have to be ready to adjust.
“That was the first time he’s dealt with that, and that’s going to be great for him in his career.”
Before college, Taylor never made it to the Utah state championship game in high school and had few chances to play in big games. But at TCU, he’d have plenty — including his first.
In his first at bat of his freshman season, Taylor hit a single against Arkansas at Globe Life Field; the first of 17 times he would play in a major league ballpark.
Taylor saves his best for the postseason, though. In a regional game vs McNeese State during his freshman season, after homering in the first, he drew a walk in the seventh that ignited a six-run inning that gave TCU the lead.
In a regional game vs Texas A&M in 2022, he hit a three-run home run in the seventh to tie the game. And this postseason, he went 16-for-27 with five home runs in a six game stretch.
“Brayden has the ability to slow things down, and not get too caught up in the moment,” said Troy Taylor, Brayden’s father. “He’s had a lot of luck and big moments. It looked like he was really having fun and enjoying the game.”
If this season were like others in the past, the MLB draft would occur in the middle of TCU’s postseason run. With Taylor projected to go in the first round of this year’s draft as the top-ranked third baseman by some analysts and scouts, his future would coincide with his present goals.
Though it’s not for another few weeks, the impending anxiety of the draft could still loom over Taylor throughout the Horned Frogs trip to Omaha. The pressure of wanting to perform well to hear his name called early could have a number of outcomes. But for Taylor, if he plays well, it will benefit his team in the tournament while not worrying his stock.
“No distraction yet,” Taylor said. “At this moment all I’m focused on is playing TCU baseball. Sure, you know people ask me all these questions about it. I’m only focused on TCU baseball and when that time comes, I’ll focus on that.”
After a career full of All-American and All-Big 12 awards, and being talked about as a future big-leaguer, Taylor has a chance to win a national championship and cement himself as a first-round draft pick.
The Horned Frogs returned to Omaha after seven years, putting Taylor on the biggest stage of college baseball. Despite funks, disappointments, big hits, accomplishments and a future yet to be seen, Taylor is playing in the moment.
“He still has a big desire to be perfect, just like every other ball player,” Troy said. “I think he’s learned to handle each moment, and he’s confident enough to know that good things are ahead of him. When he does have those funks, he thinks ahead and doesn’t dwell. There are ups and downs, but baseball does that to you. All good players struggle.”