Chris Taylor (baseball)
The Dodgers' ultimate Swiss Army knife, whose clutch postseason heroics cemented his place in the heart of a championship era.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 29·Millennials
Biography
Chris Taylor's story is one of relentless adaptation. Drafted as a shortstop, he arrived in the majors with a reliable glove but an uncertain bat. A 2016 trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, however, unlocked his potential. Under their player development system, Taylor completely retooled his swing, transforming from a light-hitting infielder into a powerful and versatile weapon. He learned to play virtually every position on the field, becoming manager Dave Roberts's most trusted utility piece. Taylor's defining moment came in the 2017 NLCS, where his walk-off home run in Game 2 sparked a series victory and announced his arrival as a postseason performer—a role he reprised for years as a core member of multiple World Series-winning teams.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Chris was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the 2017 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player after hitting .316 with two home runs for the Dodgers.
- Won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and again in 2024.
- Selected as a National League All-Star in 2021, a testament to his breakout as an everyday contributor.
- Hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 2 of the 2017 NLCS.
Did You Know?
He is one of only a handful of players to have appeared in at least 20 games at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield positions in his career.
His nickname 'CT3' became a popular fan chant at Dodger Stadium, especially after big hits.
Taylor played college baseball at the University of Virginia, where he was teammates with future MLB pitcher Branden Kline.
“I became a different hitter when I stopped trying to pull everything.”
