Chandler Simpson

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Chandler Simpson
Chandler Simpson stealing 3rd (54603478204) (cropped).jpg
Simpson with the Durham Bulls in 2025
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 14
Outfielder
Born: (2000-11-18) November 18, 2000 (age 24)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 2025, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
WBSC Premier12
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Tokyo Team

Chandler Lenard Simpson (born November 18, 2000) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Contents

Amateur career

Simpson attended St. Pius X High School in Georgia. He received one offer to play college baseball at the NCAA Division I level, from the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB). [1] He entered his true freshman season as the starting shortstop for the UAB Blazers, and played 14 games before it was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Simpson batted .288 and stole 24 bases in 27 attempts as a redshirt freshman. [2]

After the season he transferred to Georgia Tech to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. [3] In his only season playing for the Yellow Jackets, Simpson led Division I with a .434 batting average. [4] [5] In 2021, he played summer league baseball for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders of the Northwoods League. [6] After the 2022 season he played with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [7] [8]

Professional career

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Simpson in the Competitive Balance section of the second round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. [9] He was assigned to the Florida Complex League Rays after signing with the team and batted .370 with eight stolen bases in eight attempts in eight games played. [10]

Simpson split the 2023 season between the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs and High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. In 115 appearances for the two affiliates, he batted .293/.373/.345 with no home runs, 31 RBI, and a league-leading 94 stolen bases (tied with Victor Scott II). [11] In 2024, Simpson made 110 appearances split between Bowling Green and the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, batting a combined .355/.410/.397 with one home run, 29 RBI, and a league-leading 104 stolen bases (becoming the first player since Billy Hamilton in 2012 to achieve the feat). [12]

Simpson began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. On April 18, 2025, Simpson was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [13] On July 9, Simpson extended a hitting streak to 13 consecutive games, tying Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young for the franchise record. [14]

International career

Simpson was named to the United States national baseball team for the 2024 WBSC Premier12. He batted .459 with 17 hits in 37 at-bats. [15] Simpson was named to the All-World Team as an outfielder, and led the tournament in hits and stolen bases (7). [16]

References

  1. ↑ Topkin, Marc (February 22, 2025). "How Rays' Chandler Simpson could make old-school baseball new again". Tampa Bay Times .
  2. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (May 24, 2022). "Georgia Tech's Chandler Simpson leading NCAA Division I in batting average". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (April 11, 2022). "Jadyn Jackson, Chandler Simpson solidify middle infield for Georgia Tech". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sugiura, Ken (July 18, 2022). "Georgia Tech's Chandler Simpson picked 70th by Rays". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ Law, Keith (July 13, 2022). "MLB Draft prospects to watch for outside of Keith Law's final top 100". The Athletic . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). northwoodsleague.com. August 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Chandler Simpson - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Simms, André (June 30, 2022). "Good luck trying to slow down Cotuit's Chandler Simpson (and his MLB Draft stock)". Cape Cod Times . Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Crane, Andrew (July 20, 2022). "Rays draft pick Chandler Simpson built a 'throwback profile' through contact, speed". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ Collazo, Carlos (November 29, 2022). "Tampa Bay Rays 2022 MLB Draft Report Card". Baseball America . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Biscuits' Simpson becomes first player since 2012 to steal 100 bases". milb.com. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ "What to Expect from Rays Outfielder Chandler Simpson". newbaseballmedia.com. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  13. ↑ McDonald, Darragh (April 18, 2025). "Rays To Select Chandler Simpson". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Rays' Chandler Simpson Ties Franchise Rookie Record With 13-Game Hitting Streak". si.com. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Chandler Lenard Simpson". WBSC.org.
  16. ↑ "Chieh-Hsien Chen is the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP". WBSC. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
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