Who is new Padres’ prospect Taylor Trammell?
Credit: USA Today Sports
Getting to know a little bit about Taylor Trammell, who the San Diego Padres just acquired.
After swinging a three-team trade with the Indians and Reds Tuesday night, the San Diego Padres seemed to be coming up on the short end.
Trading slugger Franmil Reyes, promising young left-hander Logan Allen, and infielder Victor Nova to Cleveland and receiving just a Double-A prospect in return seemed like a mighty light return at first, but who really is Taylor Trammell.
The Reds took Trammell (pronounced truh-MELL) 35th overall in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft out of high school. He attended Mountain Paran Christian School where he played both baseball and football and hit .463 with nine home runs and 29 stolen bases.
After two strong full seasons in the Reds’ system, Trammell earned his way to top prospect status and now sits as the 30th best prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. They cite the 21-year-old’s natural ability and feel for the game as big indicators of future success. Of course, those aren’t the only skills that the 2018 Futures Game MVP possesses.
Athletic outfielder w/ above-average defensive profile & plus speed. Struggled at the plate this year. I’m not one to write a guy off from one tough year, so we’ll watch how he finishes. Good use of the barrel through the zone w/ fluid swing & raw power. Good BB rate & SB skill.
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) July 31, 2019
Trammell’s game revolves around his good eye at the plate and 70-grade speed, two elements that the Padres lack at the big league level. He has consistently posted an on-base percentage of at least .350 in his four minor league seasons, including 2019, and is on pace to crack the 25 stolen bases mark for the fourth straight year.
Although he is having a bit of a down year in 2019, scouts are high on his bat and believe him to be an above-average contact hitter with the potential to develop some more pop as his body continues to develop. Defensively, he’s seen as a left fielder long term due to below-average arm strength, but it seems as though the Padres are firm believers in giving him every chance to play centerfield, perhaps as part of a platoon with current centerfield incumbent Manuel Margot.
Trammell is very good. I will still miss La Mole, Allen, great dude, backend starter. I do believe Preller must have Margot on the block & is thinking Freddy can hold down CF until Trammell is ready for the Show. Either way, the upside of Trammell is vast. pic.twitter.com/F1qxu32iv8
— Josh Cox (@JoshCox) July 31, 2019
Center would be Trammell’s best fit on the major league roster when he finally arrives as his left-handed bat would be a welcome addition to a roster that’s very heavy on right-handed hitters. He also has the potential to get on-base at an elite rate if he can improve his average a bit, which is also something that the Friars lack.
Overall, Trammell is a very talented prospect who can be a staple in the Padres’ lineup for years to come so long as he can refine his hit tool a bit and prove he can stick in centerfield long-term. His fit on the current roster is very clear, but by the time he is ready to contribute to the team could look a lot different. He has the talent to outperform Franmil Reyes on the diamond but whether or not he can realize his tantalizing potential remains to be seen.
Born and raised in Vista, Ryan has been a Padres fan since birth. Currently attending Palomar College, Ryan is trying his hand at expressing his passion for baseball through writing. There is no better life than the baseball life.