Tyrone Taylor getting more starts for Mets due to defensive prowess

Sometimes, it just takes a full sprint to the left-center gap — where Tyrone Taylor dove to catch a ball that left Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s bat with a speed of 101.3 mph and an expected batting average of .490 Tuesday — to produce as conspicuous a reminder of defensive value as possible.

Sometimes, a moment in Game 30 can provide proof for why the Mets outfield structure should look the same five months later when everything wraps up.

Defense had always been Taylor’s strength, as he arrived last year without an error charged to his 331-game MLB ledger before committing his first three in 2024.

He became the go-to defensive option in center field during the Mets postseason, too, when timely hits followed.

Then, against the Diamondbacks, Taylor made the catch that prompted him to mouth “wow” in the moment and utter “pretty cool” and “pretty sweet” descriptors 20 hours later.

If the Mets needed another hint of the value that Taylor provides when patrolling the outfield, he presented one — along with a pair of run-scoring hits — during their win, and he’ll need to channel that across their next stretch of games to fend off competition.

Jose Siri is expected to return from a fractured left tibia at some point. Jeff McNeil and Luisangel Acuña can be plugged in at center at any moment, too.

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So this next run of games, continuing Wednesday when he started in center and hit ninth, could help determine Taylor’s role moving forward.

“I don’t think about it like that,” Taylor told The Post before he homered for the first time this season and added another multi-hit game during the Mets’ 4-3 loss. “But I think I just take every day the same — no matter what the circumstances are. I’m just here, thankful to be here and trying to be my best self.”

Taylor has hit just .222 this season, but he has now collected multiple hits in consecutive games. 

And in the frame following his RBI single Tuesday, he completed the catch that he had no choice but to rewatch a few times postgame. Family texted the replay to him. Friends, too. 

He couldn’t tell how strong his first few steps were — something he has been working on with Antoan Richardson this season — but his closing speed, Taylor said, helped him secure the catch.

He’ll need to wait until he watches the overhead camera view to assess the early steps.

He hadn’t thought about where it ranked among the best in his career, either.

Taylor was just content with pairing the catch and the hits together.

He was just focused on being ready to contribute “whether I’m in the lineup or not,” something that could continue to change as the plan for center field takes shape.

Games such as Tuesday and Wednesday, though, could help that decision sway in his favor.

“Anytime I’m able to contribute to the team like that,” Taylor said, “it’s a good feeling. Hopefully I can do more of that.”