CINCINNATI, OHIO: Chandler Simpson of the Tampa Bay Rays slides into second base for a double in the … More
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Chandler Simpson’s at-bat in the eighth inning against Baltimore reliever Seranthony Dominguez on the evening of July 19 at Steinbrenner Field was nothing less than a thing of beauty as far as the Tampa Bay Rays were concerned.
With his team trailing 2-1 with one out, the rookie outfielder fouled off – more like fought off – a pair of 99-mph heaters up in the zone from the right-handed reliever. Then, with the count two-and-two, the sixth pitch of the at-bat was an 85-mph sweeper that caught too much of the plate. The result was a line drive to center that scored Ha-Seong Kim from third to tie the game and trigger a three-run uprising in a 4-3 win.
“I just know there are less than two outs, so just trying to put the bat on the ball,” said Simpson, after the game. “Just trying to be a tough out. Just trying to score that run by any means possible.”
Rays rookie records
The 24-year-old outfielder has made a mark on Tampa Bay’s record book. Simpson had an 18-game hitting streak (June 25-July 19) to establish a new club rookie record, topping the 13 of Delmon Young in 2007 and Rocco Baldelli in 2003.
A burner on the basepaths, Simpson’s 32 stolen bases were third in the majors heading into Sunday’s action and he has only played 60 games with the Rays. He was two behind the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz (93 games) for the MLB lead with Tampa Bay teammate Jose Caballero (82 games) sandwiched in between. Simpson blew past Baldelli’s team rookie record of 27. Frankly, he is having a blast.
“It has been a blessing, honestly,” said Simpson, who played collegiately at Georgia Tech and UAB before he was Tampa Bay’s 70th pick in the 2022 draft. “I use the gift God gave me and use it every day and continue to take it one day at a time, one at-bat at a time and continue to help the team get wins.”
Rebounding from demotion
Simpson stole 104 bases in 110 games last season, which he split between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. Not only did he lead the minors in thefts, but also batting average (.355) and hits (160). He started this season at Durham before making his MLB debut April 19 against the visiting Yankees and was an instant hit, literally in that he was batting .400 after eight games and figuratively with Rays fans who anticipate something exciting will happen whenever he is in the lineup. Not surprisingly for a young player breaking into the big time, Simpson had his share of ups and downs over the next month or so – a 5-for-39 skid dropped his average to a season-low .246 on May 10 – and ultimately was sent back to Durham at the end of May.
Optioning the Atlanta native was largely a move to accommodate a congested outfield that included another rookie, Jake Mangum, returning from a rehab assignment. Mangum was hitting .338 when he was felled by a groin strain, and the Rays were eager to get him back into the lineup. Josh Lowe (oblique) was reinstated two weeks earlier and yet another rookie, Kameron Misner, earned consistent playing time. So, Simpson went to Triple-A to play every day instead of remaining in the big leagues as a part-timer.
Misner, though, struggled at the plate through much of the back half of May and June before he was sent to Durham. The corresponding move was to recall Simpson, less than one month after he was sent down. All he has done since being back with the parent club is hit .341 with 13 stolen bases while more than capably patrolling center field, though with a below average arm.
“Couldn’t be happier with the way he has performed,” manager Kevin Cash said before the Rays went on their current seven-game trip to play the Reds and Yankees. “He knows his strengths and he will try to maximize his strengths, which is to put pressure on the defense with his contact ability. Once he gets on base, the whole stadium knows he is looking to run.”
Contact ability? Simpson, who has 51 stolen bases between the Rays and Durham, has struck out six times in 91 at-bats since being recalled.
“It’s not easy what he’s doing,” said Cash. “His skillset, though, is pretty consistent and it has been consistent since he was drafted. Every level he has moved up he has shown, obviously, speed and the contact ability. The contact rate has gone up and his strikeout rate continues to go down.”
Whether battling at the plate, creating havoc on the basepaths or chasing down a fly ball in the outfield, Simpson has created many thrilling moments for Rays fans.
“I have a lot of enthusiasm for the game,” he said. “I work really hard and really enjoy the game.”
