Chandler Simpson brings a rare set of outlier skills to the Rays

Despite hitting .450 as a senior in the state of Georgia, Chandler Simpson did not receive too many offers. He had one offer, and that was from the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB). 

That is the school he would attend after graduating high school, but he would only stick there for one season. Afterward, he would transfer to  Georgia Tech. 

There, he would start to make an even bigger name for himself and catch the attention of some MLB scouts. During the 2022 MLB Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays selected him as a Competitive Balance pick. 

MORE: Rays projected to take Alabama standout with second pick in 2026 MLB Draft

Chandler Simpson brings a rare set of outlier skills to the Rays

It did not take Simpson long to fly through the minors. In July of last season, he made his MLB debut and was great. Across 109 games, he hit .295/.326/.345 with 15 doubles, three triples, 26 runs batted in, and 44 stolen bases. 

If you're unfamiliar with his game, Simpson is not your prototypical hitter that many fans are accustomed to. He does not hit for much power, but has elite bat-to-ball skills, and is considered one of the fastest players in all of baseball. 

He is looking to come into his second season strong, and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel projects that he could be a breakout candidate for Tampa Bay. 

"Simpson is why we love baseball, a unique player with outlier skills in his literally off-the-charts speed and strong contact ability. He was hot and cold last year as a rookie, but I like to bet on standout athletes with unique tools."

Simpson brings the old-school feeling of baseball back. Small ball and speed are the name of his game, and he should be an extremely fun player to watch run all over the diamond this season.

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