Samad Taylor Breaks Tacoma's Franchise Stolen Base Record

TACOMA, WA (September 16, 2025) - The Tacoma Rainiers have run wild in the last two seasons. In 2024, they set the Pacific Coast League's Modern Era Record with 286 steals, led by Ryan Bliss and Samad Taylor, who paced the league with 50 each. On Tuesday afternoon at Cheney Stadium, Taylor set another record. He stole his 43rd base of the season and the 93rd of his Rainiers career, breaking Tacoma's career franchise stolen base record.

In the first 64 years of the franchise, only one player had stolen 90 bases in their Tacoma career. Dell Alston swiped 92 bases from 1978-80. His record stood for 45 years before Taylor stole second base in the third inning on Tuesday afternoon. Prior to this season, no other player in franchise history had recorded even 80 steals, let alone 90.

Taylor, a 10th Round draft pick by Cleveland in 2016, did not hit the ground running as a threat on the bases. In his first 84 games as a professional, he amassed only 12 steals. He stole six bases in 2016 with Cleveland's complex league team, followed by six more in 2017 after a trade to the Toronto Blue Jays.

That changed in 2018.

The Corona, California native broke out with 44 steals in 2018 with Class-A Lansing in the Blue Jays organization. As he moved up the organizational ranks, he swiped 26 bases in 2019 with High-A Dunedin and took 30 more bases in 2021 with Double-A New Hampshire.

In 2022, Taylor got his first taste at Triple-A with Buffalo, taking 23 bases in his first go at the highest level of the minor leagues. That was followed by a trade to Kansas City with Max Castillo in exchange for Whit Merrifield.

His time in the Royals' system marked the beginning of multiple 40-steal campaigns. Taylor stole 43 bases with Triple-A Omaha in 2023, part of a team that stole 223 bases, leading Triple-A.

Heading into the 2024 season, Taylor was traded for the third time in his career. The Royals traded him to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later. He responded to that trade with a career-high 50 stolen bases, tied for the league lead with fellow Rainier Ryan Bliss. It also put Taylor over the halfway mark to Tacoma's franchise record.

In 2025, Taylor ripped off another 40 steals through mid-August. Sitting at 90 steals, two away from tying the franchise record, he endured a 15-game drought without a steal. Then, on September 12 at Salt Lake, Taylor got going again, stealing two bases in as many games to tie the record.

In the third inning of Tuesday's game, Taylor reached base for the first time on a walk. On the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat to Rhylan Thomas, Taylor took off and stole second base without a throw. It marked the 93rd of his Rainiers career, breaking the 45-year franchise record.

The record-breaking steal in its entirety ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sR3b8CrRx2

— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) September 16, 2025

Following his record-breaking steal, Taylor has 272 career stolen bases across all levels of the minor leagues, the second-most since his debut in 2016. He trails only the 316 by Oklahoma City's Esteury Ruiz. Since his Triple-A debut in 2022, his 159 steals at Triple-A are the most in the circuit.

How long Taylor will hold the record remains to be seen. Cade Marlowe ranks third in franchise history with 90 steals as a Rainier. With only five games remaining in the regular season, the record - which had stood still for 45 years - could change hands within the week.