Taylor Motter
Taylor Davis Motter is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals, and in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes.
Amateur career
Motter graduated from Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and played college baseball at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. In three seasons with the Chanticleers, he appeared in 187 games and had a.303 batting average with 18 home runs and 110 runs batted in with a.482 slugging percentage. He helped lead Coastal Carolina to three consecutive Big South Conference baseball championships, three NCAA Regional appearances, and one NCAA Super Regional appearance. While only hitting.256 with no home runs and three RBIs in 13 Big South tournament games, Motter, in 13 NCAA Regional/Super Regional games, hit.333 with three home runs and nine RBIs while compiling a.622 slugging percentage.In 2010, Motter played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 17th round of the 2011 MLB draft.
Professional career
Tampa Bay Rays
In 2011, Motter played in Minor League Baseball with the Princeton Rays and Bowling Green Hot Rods. He spent 2012 with Bowling Green, 2013 with the Gulf Coast Rays and Charlotte Stone Crabs, 2014 with the Montgomery Biscuits and 2015 in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls. In 2014, he was the MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game after going 3-for-3 with a home run. In 2015, Motter was named team MVP of the Durham Bulls after batting.292 and leading the International League in doubles and extra-base hits. The Rays added Motter to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.Motter was called up to the major leagues on May 15, 2016. He recorded his first major-league hit the next day in his first at bat, off of J. A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays. The following game, he hit his first major-league home run, off of Toronto's Drew Storen. Motter made 33 appearances with the 2016 Rays, batting.188 with two home runs and nine RBIs.
Seattle Mariners
On November 18, 2016, Motter and Richie Shaffer were traded to the Seattle Mariners for Andrew Kittredge, Dalton Kelly, and Dylan Thompson. During 2017, Motter played in 92 games for the Mariners, batting.198 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs. He also played 25 games in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers, where he had a.350 average. Early in the 2018 season, Motter split time between Tacoma and Seattle.Minnesota Twins
On May 28, 2018, Motter was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. He appeared in nine games with the Twins where he batted.053 ; he also played for two Minnesota farm teams. He was designated for assignment on July 24, sent outright to Triple-A on July 27, and released on August 22.Detroit Tigers
On March 6, 2019, Motter signed a minor-league deal with the Detroit Tigers organization. He played in 10 games for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he hit.148/.286/.222 with no home runs and 2 RBI. He was released by Detroit on May 14.New Britain Bees
On May 21, 2019, Motter signed with the New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 34 games, he batted.282/.396/.496 with five home runs and 28 RBI.Oakland Athletics
On June 25, 2019, Motter's contract was purchased by the Oakland Athletics organization and he was assigned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds. With Midland, Motter played in 60 games while batting.213/.300/.358 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.In November 2019, Motter was selected by the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League in the dispersal draft of the New Britain Bees, as the Bees moved to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League and had held rights to Motter within the Atlantic League.