Taylor Motter


Taylor Davis Motter is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins, and for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.

Career

Amateur

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 hit.303 with 18 home runs and 110 RBI with a slugging percentage of.482. 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 RBI in 13 Big South Tournament games, Motter, in 13 NCAA Regional/Super Regional games, hit.333 with three home runs and nine RBI while compiling a.622 slugging percentage. In 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Tampa Bay Rays

He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 17th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the Princeton Rays and also played in three games with the Bowling Green Hot Rods that year. He spent 2012 with Bowling Green, 2013 with the Gulf Coast Rays and Charlotte Stone Crabs, 2014 with the Montgomery Biscuits and 2015 with the Durham Bulls. In 2014, he was the MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game after going 3-3 with a home run. Motter was named the Durham Bulls' 2015 team MVP after ranking first in the International League in doubles and extra-base hits, 3rd in total bases and slugging percentage, 4th in hits, on-base percentage and runs scored and 8th in batting average. The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.
Motter was called up to the major leagues on May 15, 2016. He earned his first major league hit the next day in his first at bat off J. A. Happ of the Toronto Blue Jays. The following game, he hit his first career major league homer off the Jays' Drew Storen.http://m.rays.mlb.com/news/article/178662578/rays-hand-marcus-stroman-first-defeat-of-2016 Motter ended his 2016 season with a.188 batting average.

Seattle Mariners

On November 18, 2016, Motter along with Richie Shaffer were traded to the Seattle Mariners for Andrew Kittredge, Dalton Kelly and Dylan Thompson.

Minnesota Twins

On May 28, 2018, Motter was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. Motter was designated for assignment on July 24, 2018 and released on August 22nd.

Detroit Tigers

On March 6, 2019, Motter signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers. He was released on May 14, 2019.

New Britain Bees

On May 21, 2019, Motter signed with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Oakland Athletics

On June 25, 2019, Motter's contract was purchased by the Oakland Athletics and he was assigned to the Double-A Midland RockHounds. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.
On November 5, 2019, Motter re-signed with the New Britain Bees. However, following the Bees' move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, he was drafted by the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Bees dispersal draft.

Kiwoom Heroes

On December 12, 2019, Motter signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League on a $350,000 contract. Motter was placed on waivers by the team on May 29th after being sent down to their farm team earlier in the month.