Taylor's big season could be springboard to more of the same in 2015

Outfielder Michael A. Taylor had a solid season at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse that earned him a a tour with the Nationals in August and a September call-up.

Taylor got into 17 games with the big club. His first big highlight came when he slammed a home run against the Mets at Citi Field. He also had three doubles, eight hits, five RBIs and earned three walks, batting .205.

The jump that Taylor made in one season is a big story. I remember interviewing Taylor after he was named Single-A Potomac's Player of the Year in 2013. He was excited about the season and was ready to make the next step after an outstanding winter ball campaign.

In 2014, he did just that, playing very well playing for Harrisburg and earning a promotion to Syracuse. He hit .313 for the Senators in 98 games.

His defense and command of the outfield, working with the other outfielders almost like an on-field coach or a middle linebacker on a football defense, was an impressive part of his talent base.

What was missing was his ability to hit the breaking ball, and he constantly worked on cutting down his strikeouts. He had 131 strikeouts in Potomac and 130 in Harrisburg. It is still a part of his plate discipline he wants to work on.

But he also displayed his ability to get on base with 20 doubles, three triples, 23 homers and 64 RBIs in 110 games. He scored 81 runs and drew 57 walks. He also swiped 37 bases.

At 6-foot-3 and 210 lbs., he has that lanky Willie McGee-style look that sometimes masks his deceptive power. His 46 extra-base hits in the minors last season demonstrated his ability to hit the ball to the gaps or out the park. Alongside Steven Souza Jr. and Brian Goodwin, the Chiefs had quite the depth in the outfield.

Will Taylor get a shot at a spot on the Nationals' 25-man in 2015? Or does he need more seasoning at the plate?

He made such a jump last season that the possibility of starting the season at Syracuse might be a good thing for Taylor as he builds more games and more at-bats. But he will get a chance to show his stuff during major league spring training. He is not going to play winter ball this season, a place where he really excelled last year. Instead, he has time now to rest and then get in the gym leading up to the new year before getting a chance to make an even bigger splash with the Nationals.