Round 25, Pick 748: Robert Taylor | C, Arkansas-Little Rock | SIGNED

[markotsay7]

Discuss.

[markotsay7]

Robert Taylor bio - UALRTrojans.com—Official Web Site of Arkansas Little Rock Athletics

[markotsay7]

36th round pick of the Dodgers in 2006

[!NICK!]

Wow, 3 straight catchers.

[markotsay7]

I dig it.

[Hugg]

Baseball America

Catcher/outfielder Robert Taylor might have been drafted in 2007 had a bone bruise on his left hand not restricted him from playing much behind the plate. He has good size (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and righthanded power, though it remains to be seen if he can stick at catcher. His receiving skills are decent and he has some arm strength, but his throwing mechanics are long. He has enough athleticism to try the outfield corners or third base if catching doesn't work out.

[markotsay7]

Generally, playing sports at Ingram Tom Moore High School doesn’t correlate well with big league aspirations. But that’s not the case for Robert Taylor, who saw his dreams come true when the Florida Marlins selected the former Warrior catcher with the 748th pick in 25th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. “I’m kind of speechless right now,” Taylor said in a phone interview Friday afternoon. “... I’m definitely excited — playing professional baseball is what I’ve always wanted to do.” Following each pick on the Internet, Taylor waited until the second day of the draft before his phone rang and a representative from the Marlins told him they were taking a chance on him. “I’m really excited about going to the Marlins, because you know they do a great job of scouting and developing players,” Taylor said. “And if you’re picked by them, you know they’re going to develop you and bring you up quickly if you do well (in the minors).” Although he understands the road to the majors isn’t easy — usually including long and cramped bus rides, sketchy hotel rooms and more ramen noodles than steak — Taylor isn’t worried. He’s just happy to be along for the ride. “It takes a lot of work — this is just the beginning,” Taylor said. Despite the potential for bumps in the road, his former head coach has no doubt Taylor will play with the big boys one day soon. “He’s the one kid that I know can make it,” Ingram Tom Moore baseball coach Bubba Walters said. “Knowing Robert and how hard-headed and stubborn he is, he’s going to be working hard to get there.” After a successful prep career playing under Walters, Taylor went onto to spend two years at Laredo Community College where he batted .297 and .414 with a combined 26 home runs and 123 RBIs. Following his sophomore year success, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Taylor in the 36th round of the 2006 draft. But even before being picked, he knew he was moving on to play Division I baseball. Needing a bigger challenge, moved on to play for Arkansas-Little Rock of the Sun Belt Conference, where he was named first-team all-conference catcher this past season after batting .369 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. “Robert is a special kid — he’s got a lot of potential,” Walters said. “But potential is a dirty word if you don’t use it — and Robert did that.”

Kerrville Daily Times