College baseball: JT Taylor is preseason all-conference

Published 1:50 am Thursday, February 5, 2026

 

 

Staff report

GREENSBORO — North Carolina A&T middle infielder Justin “JT” Taylor’s stock is rising.

Taylor, a sturdy right-handed hitter (6-0, 185) from Salisbury, has been named to the preseason team for the  Coastal Athletic Association. While UNC Wilmington and Northeastern are expected to be the league’s toughest teams, Taylor is expected to be one of the best players. Taylor, pitcher Diego Barrett and catcher Tyler Smith enter the 2026 season as the marquee players for North Carolina A&T.

Not many Rowan baseball fans knew about Taylor for a while because he graduated from the Combine Academy in Lincolnton. But he was eligible to play for Rowan County American Legion and proved to be a difference-maker in the summer of 2023. His power was impressive, as he had more extra-base hits than singles. He had 18 singles, 15 doubles, 10 homers and three triples. He was a star for a 40-7 team that had a lot of good players, leading Rowan County in runs (57), RBIs (52), homers and doubles. He batted .383 while playing a solid shortstop.

A wrist injury limited Taylor to a handful of games for A&T in 2024, but he was granted a medical redshirt.

Healthy in 2025, he earned some accolades, making the CAA All-Freshman team and second team all-conference. He had a strong season for the Aggies with a .297 batting average, 11 homers, 14 doubles, three triples and 40 RBIs.

Taylor played in a wood bat league last summer, and while he only hit one home run, he made strides in other areas, especially in reducing his strikeout rate. He elevated his on-base percentage to .423. In 42 games, he had 35 hits, 35 walks, 22 steals and 28 runs scored.

While he is only a sophomore as far as college eligibility, the 21-year-old will be eligible for the MLB Draft this summer, and it could happen for him.

Perfect Game ranks Taylor as the second-best draft prospect in the CAA behind only a senior All-America outfielder from Northeastern (Harrison Feinberg). Taylor is considered an excellent defender as well as a talented hitter.

JT is the brother of Salisbury High basketball star Braylon Taylor. They are cousins of Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Zeek Biggers.

North Carolina A&T will tackle an ambitious schedule that includes games with North Carolina and NC State.

The season opens for the Aggies on Feb. 13 at home against Northern Illinois.