Taubensee spent his rookie season with the Cleveland Indians and then three seasons with the Houston Astros before he found his stroke with the Cincinnati Reds in 1995, when his .288 average kept him in the lineup as the Reds’ everyday catcher. A competent fielder with a weak arm (his 19% caught stealing rate was the worst in the majors in 2000), Taubensee depended on his ability at the plate to get playing time. In 1999 he had a breakout year, hitting .311 with 21 homers, the most for a Reds catcher since Johnny Bench hit 24 in 1980.
Despite high hopes for the 2000 season, a series of wrist and leg injuries caused a sharp decline in production, and surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back ended his season after 81 games. In 2001, Taubensee donned a Cleveland Indians uniform, backing up Einar Diaz. His hitting continued to fall off, as he hit only .250 with three dingers in 116 at-bats.
