A 6-6, 250lb monster back in high school, Taylor avoided an early draft by committing to Stanford. When he emerged from college, he was gobbled up by the Phillies in the same 5th round selection that netted them Ryan Howard six years earlier. Scouts saw similar things in the two sluggers.

After ditching his 'Stanford Swing' for a bigger and more wide open hammer, Taylor started to tear up the minors in 2009. He strikes out a bit too much, especially on quality breaking pitches, but his new owners in Oakland have never been afraid of that kind of hitter as long as the production averages out. As an outfielder, he has limited range, though his speed is probably average, or even a bit better than average. His strong throwing arm that suggests right field is his natural position. While his approach at the plate looks crude, he's actually a pretty polished product: until the A's added extra outfield depth via trade, he was a decent odds favorite to win a starting job with the MLB club. Now, he looks more like a bench or AAA option, at least for April.