Tampa Bay Rays’ Chandler Simpson Is One Of MLB’s Most Exciting Players

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson hustles stealing second base against the New York Yankees on April 12, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The subhead in the Tampa Bay Rays game notes was aptly worded “Catch Him If You Can.” The context dealt with Chandler Simpson’s ability to get on base and his knack for base thievery. It could, perhaps, have a marketing purpose at some point. A billboard on I-275 near Tropicana Field urging fans to catch the second-year player in action? (As bogged down as the interstate gets in St. Pete, motorists will have plenty time to absorb the messaging.) Frankly, Simpson is downright exciting to watch.

“Trying to stay present in the moment,” he said following last weekend’s sweep of the Yankees at the Trop. “Just knowing my skillset and what I am trying to do. I am never trying to do too much. Just trying to get on base.”

The 25-year-old left fielder has had no trouble getting on base. He heads into the Rays’ three-game series against the White Sox that gets underway in Chicago on Tuesday evening leading the American League in batting (.411) and is sixth in on base percentage (.482). His seven stolen bases are second to Bobby Witt, Jr.

In the sweep of the Yankees, in which Simpson started two of the three games, the left-handed hitter went 5-for-10 with five runs scored and three stolen bases. He had three hits, including a triple, in the series finale.

“Feels great,” he said of coming up big against an American League East rival. “It’s a great team with great all-time players. The fact I was able to get them for three (hits) was big, and it was great for us.”

Chandler Simpson keeps opposition on its toes

Simpson has often been great for the Rays (8-7) since he was initially summoned from Triple-A Durham last April 18 and debuted the following night against the Yankees. The former Georgia Tech and UAB standout – he led nation in batting (.433) with the Yellow Jackets in 2022 – was sent back to Durham at the end of May when fellow rookie Jake Mangum came off the IL, and returned for good at the end of June. All told, he hit .295 in 109 games for Tampa Bay last season. The Atlanta native’s 44 stolen bases were tied for second in the majors and he struck out only 43 times in 414 at-bats.

Though Simpson is not going to put the ball over the fence -- he hit his first over-the-fence home run as a professional in spring training – he provides plenty of spark no matter where he is in the Rays’ order. While Kevin Cash has often penciled in Yandy Diaz as his lead-off man, Simpson led off 67 times last year and was in the top spot in both his starts against the Yankees, his first two games atop the order in 2026. Regardless of where he is batting, he is the exclamation point to the type of lineup the Rays have pieced together.

“Chandler is very unique with how fast he is, and we have a bunch of guys that put pressure on a defense, kind of the way the roster is built right now,” said Cash. “We want to use that to the best of our abilities.”

Pressuring the defense is Simpson’s forte. He stole 225 bases in 266 minor league game, including 104 in 110 games between Single-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery in 2024. A .327 hitter in the minors, Simpson heads into Tuesday night’s game having reached base safely in each of the Rays’ 15 games (16 straight dating to last season) and has eight multi-hit games. What might jump out most among an impressive lineup of statistics is that he has struck out three times in 56 at-bats.

“I just feel like I am committed to my plan every time I am at the plate,” he said. “Just never (get too) high or low and continue to trust the process and put in the work. Continue to know what I am trying to do and let the results speak for themselves.”

Those results have come through loud and clear through the first two weeks of this season.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com