Taylor Trammell

Trammell didn't get many looks in 2023 for Seattle, and he didn't exactly shine when given the opportunity with a .612 OPS in 56 plate appearances over 22 games. The former top prospect did play well in Triple-A Tacoma and at the age of 26, there's still time for him to develop into a big-league option. In order to do so, he's going to have to start making more consistent contact, as he swung and missed on 42.3 percent of his swings and ended at-bats with a strikeout 39.3 percent of the time. He also would have ranked among the league leaders in barrel percentage (16.7) and walk rate (16.1) if he had qualified, so there is some better to take with the bitter. Trammell will likely battle for a roster spot with Seattle in 2024 and he does still offer some fantasy upside if he earns a regular role, but nothing suggests that he'll earn that type of playing time next season.

Trammell opened the 2022 campaign in the minors but was promoted in late May, and he had a .779 OPS with three home runs in 32 games before he suffered a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old spent a month on the injured list and was demoted to Triple-A once healthy, though he rejoined the Mariners for a couple stretches during the final month of the season. In total he appeared in only 43 games and now has 295 plate appearances during his big-league career. The acquisition of Teoscar Hernandez gives Seattle another option for right field -- though the slugger is likely to see significant time at designated hitter -- and the departure of Jesse Winker opens up at-bats in left. Julio Rodriguez is the only other sure thing in the Mariners' outfield, though that doesn't necessarily mean Trammell will begin 2023 in the majors or even receive many opportunities. Jarred Kelenic, Cooper Hummel, Sam Haggerty and Dylan Moore (following the acquisition of Kolten Wong to start at second base) are all in the mix in the corner outfield. None of those players have shown enough to fully block the path to playing time for Trammell, but they still provide numerous hurdles and may enter spring training with a leg up for Opening Day.

Trammell was essentially traded for a year-plus of Trevor Bauer at the 2019 deadline and was flipped again for essentially five-plus years of Austin Nola at the 2020 deadline. He is still a noteworthy prospect, but two teams have now decided that moving on from him for help at the big-league level was the prudent move. He reportedly improved his plate discipline and defensive instincts while at the alternate training site and the fall instructional league last summer, but he may no longer be a plus runner, which was a big part of his fantasy appeal. This year at Triple-A, he will need to show he can handle center field or show that his bat could profile in left field, as he lacks the arm for right field. With Julio Rodriguez, Jarred Kelenic and Kyle Lewis looking like Seattle's clear outfield of the future, Trammell will have to earn any chances he gets at the big-league level with his third pro team.

The most recognizable prospect to get moved at the trade deadline, Trammell netted the Reds a little over a year of Trevor Bauer while giving the Padres a high-upside reclamation project. In his final three months with the Reds, he hit .220/.329/.309 with three home runs in 71 games, and was not much better initially with the Padres. However, he hit .342/.416/.646 with five home runs and a 25:9 K:BB in his final 20 games (mostly the Texas League playoffs), giving a sliver of hope to those who still believe in him hitting his ceiling. His plus speed is enticing for fantasy -- he was 21-for-29 on SB attempts across 135 games. He figures to slow down in the coming years but could have some 20-steal seasons early on. Trammell needs to hit to play in a crowded Padres outfield, and it seems he may have just been too talented to struggle in the lower levels, and was then exposed by Double-A pitching (23.6 Hard%).

The peak of Trammell’s pro career to date was the 2018 Futures Game, where he went 2-for-2 with a home run and a triple en route to MVP honors. In 54 games since that high point (including Arizona Fall League play), he has two home runs and 15 steals (on 17 attempts), which illustrates his upside and the aspect of his game that needs some work. Despite his 70-grade speed, Trammell is not a great defender in center field, which may put more pressure on his bat. The Florida State League can suppress offense, but his .128 ISO as a 20-year-old is still discouraging. To date, he has struck out at a manageable clip while posting excellent walk rates for a player with his physical tools, but he has not yet been given a particularly challenging assignment. Double-A will be that test. If he can make adjustments and find success at that level, Trammell will solidify his status as one of the top outfield prospects in the minors. If not, his stock will take a hit.

Prep position players with the "two-sport athlete" tag typically take a couple years to adjust to pro pitching, but Trammell has shown surprisingly advanced plate skills early in his career. As a 19-year-old, he finished in the top 10 in the Midwest League in wRC+ (131), AVG (.281), OBP (.368), and SLG (.450) while striking out at a manageable 21.5 percent clip. What makes him highly coveted from a fantasy perspective is that, in addition to being an advanced, well-rounded hitter with power and batting average upside, he boasts 70-grade speed. This allowed him to rank second in the league in triples (10) and steals (41). In this changing fantasy landscape, where seemingly everyone can hit for power, the players who can really hit while also contributing heavily in stolen bases are the rarest of the rare. Ronald Acuna, Victor Robles, and Royce Lewis make up the first tier of this breed of prospect, and Trammell heads up the second tier. He is a legitimate dynasty-league building block.

A two-sport star in high school, Trammell is an exceptional athlete with rare instincts for the game of baseball; he has an advanced eye and approach given his age and level of experience. He drew walks at a 9.1 percent clip in rookie ball after being drafted with the 35th overall pick by the Reds in 2016, leading to a .374 OBP. He flashed a bit of power to complement his outstanding speed -- he went 24-for-31 on the basepaths and stretched six triples. Trammell won't be put on the fast track like the Reds' top pick, Nick Senzel, but he should join a full-season club for the first time at some point in 2017, if not to begin the campaign. If he can improve his contact skills a bit without sacrificing power, Trammell should establish himself as a key piece in the Reds' rebuild and a valuable asset in long-term keeper leagues.