The New York Mets on Monday pummeled the Atlanta Braves 14-3. It was a dominant night in Queens. Zac Thornton tossed his fourth consecutive quality start, the bullpen added 2 2/3 perfect innings, and the offense erupted for two touchdowns.

Every Met recorded a hit as the lineup piled up 19 on the night. Six batters reached base three times, five not only collected multiple hits but had three hits, and four hit a ball that left the yard. But one batter sticks out the most due to his recent play and that’s Tyrone Taylor. Taylor collected three hits, including his second three-run homer in as many days.

John Jones-Imagn Images

Taylor went on the injured list on May 25 with a slash line of .186/.210/.320/.530. Since returning to the team on June 28, the fourth outfielder has played his best baseball in a Mets uniform. The Mets have played 24 games since then, and here is where Taylor’s counting rank on the team in that time frame:

  • Runs: 12 (3rd)
  • Doubles: 4 (T-2nd)
  • Home-runs: 6 (T-1st)
  • RBIs: 12 (3rd)

But here’s the kicker, Taylor has done all of this in just 39 at-bats, only the 10th-most on the team during that span.

  • BA: .410 (1st, 2nd is .295)
  • OBP: .477 (1st, 2nd is .437)
  • SLG: .974 (1st, 2nd is .536)

Taylor has frequently been miscast as an everyday outfielder because of injuries around him. However, when Taylor returned, the Mets outfield was at capacity with two young Psychos and a generational talent. Before Juan Soto’s latest bout with a calf strain, playing time was even more difficult to find following the return of Luis Robert Jr. 

Since arriving in Queens in 2024, Taylor has been a glove first player and has always been a net positive in the clubhouse. In his 1,896 innings roaming the outfield at Citi, he accumulated 21 DRS which is good for 13th in the sport during that span. That’s exactly why Taylor is such an appealing trade candidate: even if the bat cools off, contenders know the glove will play.

Read our Tyrone Taylor trade profile

After a solid offensive showing in 2024 (.701 OPS), Taylor took a significant step back in 2025 accumulating a .598 OPS. Taylor’s torrid play over the last month now has his OPS at a career high .799. 

His numbers under the hood back up his recent play. Since his return, Taylor’s hard-hit rate is at 52% which would rank in the 94th percentile (just behind Bobby Witt Jr.) over the full season and is an eye popping increase over his career average of 36.8%. His average exit velocity is at an eye popping 91.9 mph which would rank in the 88th percentile. 

One notable change is that Taylor’s launch angle over this recent stretch is actually a couple of degrees lower (17) than it was last year (19.4) and to begin this year (19). Could this recent surge be a result of Taylor trying to lift the ball less? On the year Taylor’s barrel rate (10.6) and squared up rate (28.9) are both the career highs. 

While it’s impossible to know whether the adjustment was intentional, the lower launch angle suggests Taylor may be prioritizing line drives over fly balls. Combined with the jump in exit velocity, the result has been the best offensive stretch of his Mets career.

Taylor has earned a lot of fans’ respect during his time in Flushing due to his hard play and consistent upbeat energy. With every hard hit ball the last few weeks it only becomes more and more likely Taylor is wearing a different uniform before the trade deadline. He’s on an expiring contract and with his recent play and the Mets still a putrid 17 games under .500, it would be difficult to justify passing on the opportunity to capitalize on his value. 

However, every contending team could use a Tyone Taylor and these Mets are planning to be contenders come 2027. It’s entirely possible Taylor spends the next two months helping another club chase a postseason berth before returning to Queens in free agency this winter.