8/11/14

MM's Top 25: #20 OF Travis Taijeron




#20 OF Travis Taijeron (LR: #21)
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 200 lb
Age: 25
Acquired: 2011 Rule 4 Draft, 18th round, California Polytechnic State University 

2014: (AA) .248/.362/.486, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 1 SB (33%), 44 BB, 87 K
2013: (A+/AA) .271/.356/.531, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 1 SB (50%), 47 BB, 131 K
2012: (A/A+) .255/.362/.477, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 6 SB (86%), 55 BB, 122 K

2011: (SS-A) .299/.387/.557, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 0 SB (0%), 22 BB, 64 K

    The world is full of guys who know how to hit a baseball. However, very few know how to hit a baseball HARD. Travis Taijeron is one of those guys. While he may never hit over .250 in the big leagues, Taijeron has the ability to regularly OPS over .850 which is higher than any Met right now outside of Lucas Duda.

     Taijeron swings and misses a lot with a K rate that is regularly over 25% but still maintains a healthy OBP thanks to a BB rate that is also over 10.5%. By SABR definitions, Taijeron is what we would call a "3 true outcome" player or a player who's stat will not fluctuate due to advanced metrics such as BABIP. When Taijeron gets base hits, its not due to luck, he just hits the ball really hard. During his time with Binghamton, he's on pace to hit 50 doubles and be a 30 HR 100 RBI guy.

     In terms of a Mets comp, the organization hasn't had an OF bat like Taijeron since Cliff Floyd. An average to slightly below average hit tool with monster power, a strong OBP, but little speed. Defensively, as with most of the Mets OF prospects right now, Taijeron has a very sure glove and a strong arm. His average speed is played up in the OF thanks to his good reads and route running abilities. If he can improve his hit tool just a little bit and somehow get that K rate closer to 20%, the Mets may have something special here.

Ceiling: 20 HR Starting OF on a Second Division Team 
Floor: Right Handed Power Bat off the bench

2 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Like the rating for Taijeron. This guy intrigues me.

He has always K'd a lot, but he is likely (without me researching it) the most potent extra base hit producer their minors system has ever produced. That's saying a lot.

Taijeron in 1280 official plate appearances since turning pro averages an extra base hit every 7.3 official at bats. That's 100 doubles, 10 triples and 64 homers. That's a LOT.

Strawberry in his best major league year was 7.0, and never beat Taijeron's 7.3 in any other year. Wright's best major league year was one every 8.2 at bats.
That shows how special Travis' 4 year rate is.

I am hoping that the coach who helped den Dekker recently can also help Taijeron cut down his K's. If he does, maybe he'll go from dark horse to possibly an outstanding major league power hitter.

Michael S. said...

I think Kirk and Taijeron will be our two primary backup OF in a year or so.