CINCINNATI — Michael A. Taylor runs like clockwork.
Every day before games, you’ll find him seated in his spot in a corner of the White Sox’ clubhouse, headphones on, eyes locked on a tablet, poring over video of opposing pitchers.
It’s a routine that has powered him through 10 years in the majors.
It has made him a World Series champion.
And now it’s helping him shepherd a young Sox team in the thick of a rebuild.
“There’s just wisdom in everything he says,” manager Will Venable said. “His presence in the clubhouse has been invaluable.”
Born in Lake Forest to U.S. Army officer parents, Taylor has helped lead a crop of new big-leaguers with his quiet example in his return to the Chicago area.
“You can’t quantify the presence he has with such a young group,” assistant general manager Josh Barfield said. “Having a guy like that who’s been through it all, he just brings such stability, having somebody that you can look at as an example day to day.”
Utility man Brooks Baldwin, who has seen more time outside his comfort zone in the outfield this season, said he “just stood back and watched” Taylor in spring training.
“I just studied how he worked, how he went after balls and found his angles,’’ Baldwin said. ‘‘And I set up [similarly] in the outfield, staying stagnant but loose and getting a good jump.’’
Not that Taylor, 34, who hit a solo home run in the seventh inning off Reds reliever Scott Barlow on Wednesday, is only in Chicago for his sage veteran wisdom.
“He made an unbelievable catch, like he was 21 years old again out there,” right-hander Jonathan Cannon marveled after a line drive Taylor sprinted down during the Sox’ 5-1 victory over the Reds on Tuesday. “He’s unbelievable.”
The glove-first outfielder has provided a boost in right field while hitting .198 with two homers and five stolen bases.
Taylor was on the Nationals’ 2019 World Series title team, hitting a homer in Game 2. He won a Gold Glove with the division rival Royals in 2021. The Sox became his fourth team in as many years when he signed as a free agent in February.
Last week, he officially attained 10 years of MLB service time, a milestone that promises to max out his pension and also underscores the talent and physical stamina needed to last a decade at the highest level.
“This has been my dream, to play the game, and I feel fortunate and blessed to be able to play as long as I have,” Taylor said. “My parents aren’t here anymore, but just thinking about what they sacrificed and did for me, having an opportunity to be here, I like to think I’ve made them proud.”
Continued production in the first half could make Taylor a valuable commodity for a contending team at the trade deadline, bringing the possibility of a new clubhouse and new expectations — but not a new approach.
“I think the formula stays the same, whether you’re rebuilding or expecting to win the World Series as a team going into the season because I think the more times you do that year in and year out, that’s how teams build a winning culture,” Taylor said. “It has to start when you’re rebuilding because it’s really hard to try to turn the switch and be like, ‘All right, now all of a sudden, we want to win.’ You have to learn how to do that. It starts in the minor leagues.”