“You have to be ready to listen,” Taylor McGregor later explained in an interview over the phone. “That’s the most important piece of advice I give. While you might be nervous and focused on the next question, you should focus on the story in front of you.”

At just 32 years old, Taylor McGregor has become one of Major League Baseball’s most recognizable field reporters. 

As part of Marquee Sports Network – the TV home of the Cubs – since its launch in 2020, Taylor McGregor has been on the front lines of Cubs’ baseball. Between interviewing players and offering fans an inside look at the game they love, Taylor McGregor’s journey to the field began long before she ever held a microphone.

Growing Up With Baseball 

Sports were the soundtrack of Taylor McGregor’s childhood in Colorado. 

Her father, Keli McGregor, worked in the Colorado Rockies’ front office, giving Taylor McGregor an insider’s view of the rhythms of professional sports: late nights at the ballpark, front-office chatter and the daily lives of players.

“Sports were a huge part of my life growing up,” Taylor McGregor said. “I spent so much time around the game because of my dad.”

However, for a long time, Taylor McGregor imagined a future far away from the dugout.

In high school and college, Taylor McGregor considered joining the CIA. Ultimately, the storytelling, competition and connection to journalism won her over.

“It just was clear that I wanted to be part of sports in some way,” Taylor McGregor said. “I didn’t know exactly what that would look like yet.”

Early Inspirations

Taylor McGregor said she looked up on high-profile field reporters such as Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson. 

“I admired the way they could step onto a field and tell stories that mattered,” she said. “They had a presence, but they also connected with people.”

Taylor McGregor majored in broadcast journalism at the University of Arkansas, covering sports for campus media and later taking internships with ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and Fox Sports Kansas City. 

Each internship gave Taylor McGregor valuable time in front of and behind the camera, building the muscle memory of reporting: preparation, poise and persistence. Her first national role came with ESPN and the SEC Network, where she covered college football and baseball. 

Taylor McGregor later joined Marquee Sports Network in its inaugural season, drawn by the chance to cover Major League Baseball full-time, despite the COVID-19 limitations.

“It forced me to get creative,” she said. “I learned to tell stories without being physically close to players.”

The Challenge of Balance

Life on the road and in front of the camera brings its own pressures. Taylor McGregor said one of her biggest challenges has been learning how to set boundaries in a constant profession. 

“Knowing your limits and having a balance is important,” Taylor McGregor. “Being able to say no to something to say yes to something else is perfectly okay. Balance is definitely a struggle.”

Covering baseball means long travel days, late-night deadlines and constant access to social media. 

“It can be hard to switch off,” she said.

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Listening, Not Just Asking

Taylor McGregor’s approach to reporting focuses less on sticking to a script and more on active listening.

“Focus on what is being said and ask follow-ups to keep the story going and build from there,” she advised. “You can always pivot and build off of something rather than following a scripted storyline.”

Taylor McGregor said she applies the same philosophy to building credibility with athletes and coaches.

“You can’t just talk to someone once and expect it to continue,” Taylor McGregor said. “You should be able to talk about things other than the sport that person is in. Ask them about their weekend, how the family is, things like that.”

Furthermore, she said doing her homework is another non-negotiable. 

“While you won’t know everything, you should at least know the bare minimum,” Taylor McGregor said. “Get to know the team and just a little bit of their backstories to add a fun little pizzazz.”

Building Relationships, Building Trust

Taylor McGregor said it’s surreal younger women look up to her in the same way she once looked up to Andrews and Thompson. Her advice to them is simple, even if it sounds silly: be kind.

“You’re working with this crew, whether for potentially a long time or a short time; reporters are very replaceable,” she said. “Being kind just goes a long way with people, and you can never overstate how much it means to work with someone.”

Taylor McGregor added “Having fun [at work] begins with who you’re around. If you don’t enjoy the people you work with, it’s much, much harder to have fun.”

A Model for Aspiring Reporters

For aspiring sports journalists, Taylor McGregor’s path offers a blueprint: cultivate curiosity, put in the work, build relationships and stay grounded. Her microphone is visible on TV, but much of her job takes place off-camera, including conversations in tunnels, quick check-ins at batting practice and small talk in elevators. 

All of it lays the groundwork for credible, authentic reporting.

Taylor McGregor calls it a privilege, not a platform. 

From her days as a Colorado kid hanging around Coors Field to her current post at Wrigley Field, Taylor McGregor has built a career on preparation, empathy and professionalism; values instilled by her father and reinforced by years of hard work. 

“Sports are about people,” she said. “Whether it’s a rookie making his debut or a veteran chasing a milestone, every player has a story. I’m lucky I get to share them.”