Sept. 2, 2011

Stanford's All-Time Major Leaguers
Current Professional Players

OAKLAND, Calif.-- Former Stanford all-conference outfielder Michael Taylor became the program's 88th major leaguer when he was called up to the big leagues and joined the Oakland Athletics.

The former 2007 first team All-Pac-10 pick hit .296 over five minor league seasons, spending the last two years at Triple-A Sacramento after getting traded from the Phillies, where he was a fifth round pick.

This past year just down the road in the state capital, Taylor hit .272 with 16 homer and 64 RBIs, after hitting .272 with 78 RBIs in 2010. In his first full minor league season in 2008, he hit .346 across Single-A with a .361 average for Low-A Lakewood with 50 RBIs and 10 homers and .329 for High-A Clearwater. He continued his torrid pace with a .320 average with 20 homers and 84 RBIs in 2009. At Double-A Reading, he hit .333 and at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he hit .282, before being traded.

He ended his Stanford career in 2007 after hitting .316 with 21 homers, 126 RBIs and scoring 80 runs over 174 games. He started 140 consecutive games at one point, primarily as the team's rightfielder.

Taylor was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 pick in 2006 after batting .325 with five homers in 39 RBIs. He finished his career with 10 homers, 59 RBIs and a .335 average, leading the team in homers and RBIs.

Since 1958, Stanford has had at least one player in the majors, the seventh longest streak in collegiate baseball. Under 35-year head coach Mark Marquess, 46 of his 55 major league players have earned their degrees.

Taylor is one of 10 former Cardinal players in the majors this season: Sam Fuld (Rays), Jeremy Guthrie (Orioles), Jed Lowrie (Red Sox), Donny Lucy (White Sox), John Mayberry, Jr. (Phillies), Cord Phelps (Indians), Greg Reynolds (Rockies), Carlos Quentin (White Sox), Drew Storen (Nationals) and Taylor. In addition, Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Kenny Williams are general managers, while Jason Castro, Chris Carter and John Hester are former major leaguers still playing as well. Stanford has 30 professional players in 2011.