Chandler Simpson
Bio:
Age: 22
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Draft Profile: 2nd round, Competitive Balance Round, 70th pick of the 2022 draft by Tampa Bay
Drafted Out of: Georgia Tech
Career Stat Line: .295 AVG .370 OBP 0 HR 19 RBI 75 SB 1.000 Fielding %
Wheels: that's what this week's Minor League Spotlight is known for. Chandler Simpson turned pro with an 80 grade for speed and has delivered on the hype thus far. It's a trait that he's honed throughout his baseball journey, as well as a commitment to hard work, all culminating into an ascending minor league career.
Simpson attended St. Pius X High School from 2016-2019, where he spent four seasons as a member of the basketball and baseball teams. On the diamond, Chandler was a highly intriguing prep prospect for the Golden Lions, ripping 20 hits in 90 plate appearances as a sophomore, firmly establishing himself as a valuable member of the varsity unit (Max Preps).
After his senior campaign in 2019, he rose to the #73 in the Georgia prep rankings, and the 13th shortstop in the state overall (Wramblin' Wreck). He earned All-State honors as a middle infielder in the process, but did not draw a ton of national attention from the top D-1 schools-- ultimately committing to the University of Alabama-Birmingham to begin his collegiate journey.
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| Photo: UAB Athletics |
While far from a baseball power house, UAB was exactly the springboard the kid would need to find himself on the radar of a major program. He played just fourteen games in a pandemic-shortened 2020, boasting a .353 OBP and eight stolen bases. 2021 was a coming out party though.
Thanks to COVID, Simpson was allowed to run his freshman year back. The then-second basemen posted a modest .288/0/20 line, stealing 24 bases on 27 attempts (Baseball Reference). Most impressively, he only struck out 16 times in 194 plate appearances, good for an 8.2% strikeout rate. "There's no real secret to his success," coach Perry Roth noted. "Chandler is very talented and is as hard of worker as you can be. He earns his success." (UAB Sports)
His performances for the Blazers earned him Conference USA All-Freshman honors.
Chandler would not return to Birmingham for an encore however, instead transferring back to his home state to play for Georgia Tech University. He absolutely exploded in his one season for the Yellow Jackets, slashing a .434 average with a .506 on-base percentage, knocking in 27 while stealing that same number of bases at an 87.1% success rate. The plate discipline he showed the year prior more than translated to ACC baseball, as the sophomore posted a 2:1 BB:K ratio and a gaudy 6.6% K%.
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| Photo: GT Athletics |
Major league teams quickly took notice of Simpson's potential. He could hold his own in the middle infield and play outfield, virtually never struck out and had elite level speed and baserunning instincts. Despite the nearly nonexistent power tool and fairly weak arm, his other traits had scouts enamored (SI.com). After trickling down the draft board a little, Tampa Bay scooped up the 21 year old with the 70th pick in the 2022 draft-- a competitive balance selection. They signed him to for a slightly under slot bonus of $750,000 and sent him down to the Florida Complex League for his first professional appearances.
In a brief eight games for the FCL Rays, the rookie batted .370, a 6:4 BB:K ratio and a flawless 8/8 on stolen bases (MiLB.com). While still early, there was plenty of optimism that Tampa's front office had uncovered yet another productive piece to the farm.
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| Photo: Charleston RiverDogs |
The organization promoted the 17th ranked prospect to Class-A Charleston for the start of the 2023 season. Thus far, the RiverDog has hit .285 with 16 RBI, stealing 67 bases on 78 attempts-- good for first in the Carolina League and a whole 25 ahead of second place. He's also switched to outfield full time, taking advantage of his world class speed, where he's yet to make an error in his minor league career.
I was fortunate to see Chandler live this past Tuesday. Seemed like a fun dude, interacting with the fans in center field. He laid down a beautiful bunt in the third that we included in the reel; kid's really, really fast.
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| Photo: Ted Lutz |
Excited to see what Simpson can turn into going through the Rays farm system. If he can rediscover anywhere near the ability to hit for average that he showed as a sophomore at GT, then multiple All-Star Games could be in his future. If he falls anywhere close though, he'll be a valuable leadoff hitter in the league for a long time. Learn the name now.
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@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
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