The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – June 19, 2016 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen have bolstered their infield with the addition of Grambling State shortstop Marshawn Taylor.

Taylor sat out the 2016 season after transferring from Eastern Illinois. He was taken in the 35th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of high school by the Seattle Mariners. Taylor elected to go the college route rather than signing with Seattle.

Taylor left the Coastal Plaines League and came to the Oilmen to reunite with former teammates Bo Fletcher, Chris Baker and Reggie Johnson.

“With me sitting out the 2016 spring as a transfer, I want to use this summer to get the feel of taking more live ABs,” Taylor said. “I want to work on hitting the ball the other way and staying on top of balls.”

Taylor batted .252 in 36 games (27 starts) at Eastern Illinois in 2015 as a sophomore. He received regular playing time at shortstop, a position where the Oilmen have been depleted by injuries and needed an extra boost.

Taylor has joined the team and is available for Sunday’s game against the Admirals.

“The transition to Grambling was real because the game moves a lot faster down south,” Taylor said. “They welcomed me in and it was really fun watching my team play. It hurt me too because I couldn’t play with them.”

For Taylor, a primary goal of the summer season with the Oilmen is to shake off rust after sitting out due to transfer rules.

“I might struggle at the beginning, but that’s how things are when you have to sit out for a couple months,” he said. “I just need to see some live ABs; I really don’t think I’ll have any problem with my game.”

Taylor becomes the fifth player to play for the Oilmen either before or after being selected in the MLB Draft. The list also includes Enrique Zamora, Craig Dedelow, Brandon Murray and Larry Crisler.