The Kansas City Royals faced off against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday in the MLB debut of Royals second base prospect Samad Taylor. Royals fans have had very little to cheer about this season, but Taylor gave them a reason for excitement with his first career hit, which just so happened to be a walk-off.
Taylor came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game with a runner on third base and only one out. He had an opportunity that any debuting player would love to have, and he certainly took full advantage of it.
The 24-year-old rookie hit the ball over the head of Angels center fielder Mike Trout, bringing in third base runner Maikel Garcia to send the home crowd at Kauffman Stadium home happy.
"SAMAD TAYLOR'S FIRST MAJOR-LEAGUE HIT IS A GAME-WINNER!" ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/XqXDKYSgLY
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2023
Many around the MLB world took notice of the awesome moment and praised Taylor for coming through for his team when it mattered most.
What's better than your first Major League hit? A game-winning first Major League hit.
Samad Taylor caps off the @Royals' 6-run comeback in style.
(MLB x @CoronaUSA) pic.twitter.com/MzTGuRh0B5
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2023
A walk-off fit for Royalty! 👑🙌
Samad Taylor delivers with his first big league hit to win it for Kansas City! pic.twitter.com/AG1GS3Z4rJ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 17, 2023
What a moment for Samad Taylor .. says he doesn’t remember anything to @goldbergkc .. but he has the video to watch and remember. Great stuff. pic.twitter.com/kkMxAbL3kR
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) June 17, 2023
First MLB hit…GAME WINNER
Samad Taylor gets it done for the Royals 🤯
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/ZTS8J3t3zk
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 17, 2023
Samad Taylor just notched his first career MLB hit.
It was a walk-off 🎉 @Royals pic.twitter.com/A2lrGJ3yuR
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 17, 2023
You always remember your first, but especially for Samad Taylor!
His first MLB hit walks it off for the Royals 👏pic.twitter.com/1Zgpw67lB0
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) June 17, 2023
It’s obviously an awesome moment for anyone to get their first hit. Doing so on a walk-off for the home crowd is pretty exceptional. Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. realized the importance of the moment, running out to center field to go and retrieve the ball he hit for him.
Bobby Witt Jr. ran all the way to the wall to get Samad Taylor the ball 🥹 pic.twitter.com/sR34lyIims
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 17, 2023
Taylor was interviewed after his memorable moment, where he was at a loss for words when asked just how special the hit was to him.
“This is something that you don’t even dream of,” said Taylor. “I have no words, I can just thank god that’s it. I don’t remember anything. After I made contact, I don’t remember anything.”
Samad Taylor on his walk-off hit in his MLB debut: "This is something you don't even dream of. I have no words. I can just thank God." #Royals pic.twitter.com/uYsTLq7rgB
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) June 17, 2023
It is a moment that he will surely never forget, and Royals fans will hope that he can continue to have this kind of impact for years to come.
