Taylor Looking To Bring A Championship To Alabama

Chandler Taylor OF / 1B / Badin, OH / 2026

CINCINNATI - There were three things that Chandler Taylor was focused on finding the first day college coaches could make contact with players in the 2026 class.

“Coaches that could get me to the goal, which is MLB; getting a degree; and having a good college life off the field with friends,” the Badin High School junior related about what he was hoping to discover during the many conversations that took place on Aug. 1.

A good connection with his parents was another deciding factor for the top-rated 2026 outfielder in Ohio, who is now bound for Alabama after a commitment to the Southeastern Conference university in Tuscaloosa.

“They came and watched me a lot this summer, including the national championships at LakePoint,” Taylor noted. “My first call with them was Aug. 1 and I loved how energetic the coaches were. I talked to three of the coaches that day and all of them were invested in me. They wanted me to come down to meet me and my family.”

A visit took place the last week of October.

“The campus was super cool, everything was super close together,” the 198th-ranked junior in the nation explained. “The baseball field is close to the dining hall, the dorms are behind the dining hall and they have the major I want, sport medicine.”

An offer was presented and Taylor accepted on Nov. 11.

“I really liked the coaches,” Taylor said. “My parents liked how nice they were. The coaches texted my parents to see how they were doing and the coaches texted me to let me know if I needed anything.”

A commitment ended a recruiting process that featured a “very tiring” Aug. 1.

“I started calls at 10-10:30 and the last call was at 8:30,” Taylor reflected. “It was super cool, but super tiring at the same time.”

Offers from Power 5 schools came in with the 29th-rated 2026 outfielder in the country eventually narrowing his list down to Alabama and two others.

“I considered playing with my brother, but he is wanting to get drafted this year,” Taylor said in reference to Devin, a junior at Indiana who is the first player in program history to earn first team All-Big 10 honors in each of his first two seasons. “He told me to find a coach that didn’t talk like a robot to you. Someone that didn’t just talk baseball, someone that could talk about something else and would do what’s best for you.” 

Getting noticed prior to Aug. 1 was part of the process.

“I traveled a lot this summer,” the left-handed hitting junior noted. “I went to Georgia four times and I went to three PBRs. Playing Prep Baseball helped get my name out, showcases around here got my numbers out and they also got video out for coaches to see me.”

There was a lot to like about the talented 16-year-old, who has made a lot of strides in his game.

“From freshman year until now I’ve gained 40 pounds,” the 6-2 175-pounder related. “That was my problem. I got in the weight room and got stronger and faster. I also got a stronger mental mindset. My goal is to always have fun with it.”

Ironically, Taylor’s first love as a youth wasn’t baseball.

“When I was younger I wanted to play basketball,” explained Taylor, who is a starter on the Badin high school team. “When I was playing the 12-13U circuit I could see myself doing baseball, but I really liked basketball. This past year is when I decided on baseball.”

The fourth-rated 2026 in Ohio is confident he can make an impact on the ball diamond at the university in Alabama located eight hours from home. 

“I feel I can bring speed and hit for power,” Taylor said. “Right now fielding is my best attribute. I track down balls and keep my team in the game when needed.”

Hitting coaches Lance Durham, Vince Harrison and John Sullivan are credited by Taylor with playing important roles in his baseball journey, with his parents providing vital advice along the way.

“They told me always have fun, don’t make it a job,” Taylor explained. “In high school I had a mental coach who helped me freshman year. I struggled at the start so he had me do things like juggling to get my mind off of things.”

There is little to worry about now after a commitment to Alabama.

“The weight is lifted off my shoulders,” Taylor admitted. “This was a big process for me. I wanted to take my time and not rush it. I wanted to take it slow. When I felt Alabama was the move to make, and I felt good about it, I called (head) coach (Rob) Vaughn. It was the best feeling in my life.”

After all, an opportunity to play baseball in the SEC doesn’t come around too often.

“I’ll be playing some of the best players you can face in the world and playing with some of the best,” Taylor said. “I want to go out and have fun with it.

“Being with the guys and having fun, that’s my main focus,” concluded Taylor, who carries a 3.9 GPA at Badin. “On the field I want to dominate and bring home a championship to Tuscaloosa.”