Dodgers utility infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor (affectionately known as “CT3”) began a rehab assignment with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday, August 15, as he works his way back from a fractured left forearm suffered on July 14 when he was hit by a pitch – an injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 15 – thus marking exactly one month from being placed on the IL and playing in his first rehab game.

“I took the splint off pretty early, like 10 games in,” Taylor told ThinkBlueLA on Friday evening after his second consecutive rehab appearance with the Quakes. “They said the sooner you can move it around the quicker the recovery will be.

“I didn’t have it on very long. I think as players, we always want to get back on the field as quick as we can,” Taylor added. “Sometimes we want to move quicker than we should.”

In his first game back on Thursday, Taylor started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in three … including himself. After singling to short in his first at-bat, the soon-to-be (on August 29) 29-year-old Virginia Beach, VA native and fifth-round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners in 2012 out of the University of Virginia, slugged a three-run home run to right-center in his second at-bat in the bottom of the second inning. He flew out to left in his third and final at-bat and was removed from the game in the fifth inning.

Taylor only had only one defensive opportunity on Thursday night but it was a big one, a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the second inning. Although he didn’t see much defensive action in game one, Taylor said one of the biggest benefits to being back in an actual game is facing actual live in-game pitching.

“Seeing the pitching,” he said. “I haven’t seen live pitching in a month so getting live at-bats is the biggest thing right now.”

In his second rehab game on Friday night against the Cal League North first-place Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) and Cal League North first-half winners, Taylor was the Quakes designated hitter. For the second consecutive night, he again went 2-3, this time with a walk in the first, a single to center in the third, a fly out to center in the fourth, and a single to left in the bottom of the seventh. He was officially removed from the lineup in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 5-5 in the eventual 7-6 Quakes loss in 10 innings.

As for how he is feeling, Taylor said that he is ready to rejoin the NL West first-place Dodgers.

“I feel 100 percent, I feel great. No concerns with the wrist,” he said emphatically. “It feels strong and, at this point, I think it’s just getting the at-bats and getting back in the rhythm. The next step would be being activated and playing. This is the final step.”

Ironically, this was not Taylor’s first trip to the California League, as he played for the now-defunct High Desert Mavericks when they were the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners from 2007 to 2014. Asked what it was like returning to the Cal League for his rehab, Taylor spoke fondly of his one season at High-A.

“It’s cool. Kinda reminisce on the league,” he answered. “I was in this league back in 2013 with the Mariners and we actually played the Mariners yesterday; they’re not in High Desert anymore. It’s pretty cool and Rancho was actually one of my favorite places to come when I was in the league, so it’s always nice coming back here.”

Although the next step for Taylor remains to be seen, there is an exceptionally good chance that he will rejoin the Dodgers in the very near future; perhaps as early as Tuesday, August 20, when the Dodgers host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game interleague series.

Then again, it might be on Friday, August 23, when the Dodgers host the AL East first-place New York Yankees for a three-game set that could very well be a preview to the 2019 World Series.

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