Taylor quickly copes after trade

JUPITER, Fla. — If Tyrone Taylor ever needed outfield inspiration, the Brewers possessed plenty of sources. Lorenzo Cain. Ben Gamel. Christian Yelich. Those names dotted the Milwaukee lineup when Taylor made his MLB debut in 2019, and he picked up on the routines and the pregame work that they needed — and he’d need, too, one day — to become regular starters.

But Taylor’s gradual development with the Brewers encountered an element of surprise when they dealt him, along with starter Adrian Houser, to the Mets in December. A member of the front office called Taylor when he was training. He was shocked, in disbelief.

“But then after a couple hours, I was just excited to get out here and meet everybody,” Taylor, 30, told The Post before the Mets defeated the Cardinals, 9-3, Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Spring became transitional, with Taylor adapting to the Mets — the first spring training of his career that didn’t involve the Brewers — while at the same time competing for a spot as the fourth outfielder behind Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte. In 331 MLB games with the Brewers since 2019, including a career-high 120 in 2022, he has never committed an error.

Taylor so far has produced strong numbers with the Mets, hitting .353 with a .742 OPS, and manager Carlos Mendoza added that he has impressed in center field, too.

“Some of the jumps, some of the plays that he’s made there so far, it’s been really, really good to see,” Mendoza said.

At first, Taylor’s arrival in Port St. Lucie felt like the first day at a new school or the opening shift at a new job. It took time to feel comfortable. Took him to get used to his surroundings. Took time to translate the anxiety-free feelings into the workouts and games.

That, he said, helped anchor his spring with the Mets. Outfield, since his sophomore year at Torrance (Calif.) High School, was always his natural position, dating back to when Taylor realized he couldn’t make the infield throws and also needed to switch positions in order to crack the varsity lineup. He’s made 78 percent of his MLB outfield appearances in right or center, and five of his six spring starts have involved patrolling center — with the other as the Mets’ left fielder. Taylor has tried to fine-tune his posture and bat path since the offseason trade, too.

Based on how everything unfolds, it could lead to a roster spot.