Angels infielder Chris Taylor unretires just one day after walking away from baseball originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Veteran MLB utility player Chris Taylor seemed to call it a career on Friday, choosing to step away from baseball. However, Taylor quickly reversed his decision.
After the Los Angeles Angels announced Taylor’s retirement on Friday, Taylor changed course and un-retired on Saturday. Instead, Taylor will be placed on the Angels’ minor league injured list, as he has spent the entire season playing for Los Angeles’ AAA team to this point.
The 35-year-old Taylor is apparently hoping to get another shot in the majors at some point this season, and it could come with the last-place Angels. Taylor spent the 2025 season splitting time between the Dodgers and Angels, playing a combined 58 games for the two Los Angeles teams.
Here’s a look at Taylor’s decision to keep playing baseball.
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Why did Chris Taylor un-retire?
Taylor did not give a reason why he un-retired, but reporter Rhett Bollinger reports that he simply changed his mind.
Taylor’s decision likely had to do with him being willing to be patient and wait for his injury to heal. Taylor has a fracture in his left forearm after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday night and now must wait for the injury to heal before returning to the field.
Chris Taylor retirement announcement
Taylor initially retirement from the game of baseball on Friday, as the Angels listed him as retied on the MiLB transactions page. Taylor was playing for the Angels AAA team in Salt Lake City when he was hit by a pitch on Wednesday, suffering an injury that will require time to heal.
Chris Taylor has retired, according to https://t.co/zdFrZqRDT1.
Taylor, 35, won two World Series rings and made one All-Star team during a 10-year run with the Dodgers. He was playing for the Angels’ AAA team in Salt Lake.— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 22, 2026
What is Chris Taylor’s injury?
On Wednesday night, Taylor was hit in the forearm by a pitch, resulting in a fractured left forearm. Since Taylor is now un-retired, the Angels put him on the minor league injured list.
Taylor was hit by a pitch and left Wednesday’s game with Triple-A Salt Lake in the sixth inning.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 23, 2026
Chris Taylor career highlights
Taylor had many big moments as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers before he signed with the Angels. During the 2017 World Series, Taylor hit a lead-off home run against Dallas Keuchel in Game 1.
Chris Taylor has officially retired after 12 seasons.
2x World Series Champ, NLCS MVP, All-Star, and my favorite MLB player.
His leadoff HR he hit on the first pitch of the 2017 World Series against Dallas Keuchel is still my favorite AB I’ve ever seen (fun fact: I was at a… pic.twitter.com/3v2aOG50Rn
— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) May 22, 2026
On the defensive side, Taylor had a huge catch in Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS, which helped the Dodgers hold a slim lead.
EXHALE. pic.twitter.com/de5G5qfUBR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 21, 2018
However, Taylor’s biggest moment in his baseball career was likely his walk-off home run off of Alex Reyes during the 2021 NL Wild Card game.
October 6, 2021: Chris Taylor hits a 2-run walk-off home run on the Bottom of the 9th to lift the Dodgers over the Cardinals in the NL Wild Card Game. pic.twitter.com/kPbeIJPtmN
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 6, 2023