Chandler Simpson is a left fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who has made a real impression in his first two MLB seasons — not with power, but with a bat that stays hot and legs that never stop running. Since his debut on April 19, 2025, he’s carved out a role as one of the game’s most disruptive table-setters.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Chandler Simpson
- Position: Left fielder
- Team: Tampa Bay Rays
- Jersey number: 14
- Bats / Throws: Left / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’11» / 170 lb
- Born: November 18, 2000 (25 years old)
- Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA 🇺🇸
- MLB debut: April 19, 2025
Background
Born on November 18, 2000, in Atlanta, Georgia, Simpson grew up in the heart of Southern baseball culture. He developed through Tampa Bay’s minor league system, earning his shot at the big leagues by showing plate discipline and standout athleticism at every level. He bats left and throws right — a profile that fits perfectly into the kind of versatile, high-IQ roster the Rays have built their identity around.
Professional Career
Simpson’s 2025 debut was everything the organization hoped for. In his first MLB season, he slashed .295 with 26 RBI, 53 runs scored, and a jaw-dropping 44 stolen bases — a number that immediately announced him as one of the fastest players in the American League.
In 2026, he took a step forward at the plate, hitting .304 with 23 RBI, 48 runs scored, and an OPS of .696. The power numbers remain modest — zero home runs across both seasons — but that’s simply not his game. Simpson’s value lives in his ability to get on base and wreak havoc once he does. He added 31 stolen bases in 2026, bringing his two-year combined total to 75 steals.
At just 25 years old, he’s the kind of player Tampa Bay has always loved: young, efficient, and capable of changing a game without ever leaving the yard.
Career Stats
- 2025 — Tampa Bay Rays: .295 AVG | 0 HR | 26 RBI | 53 R | .671 OPS | 44 SB
- 2026 — Tampa Bay Rays: .304 AVG | 0 HR | 23 RBI | 48 R | .696 OPS | 31 SB
Awards and Recognition
Simpson hasn’t collected any major individual hardware yet — no Silver Slugger, no MVP votes. But within the analytics community, he’s widely recognized as one of the prospects in the Rays system who has most lived up to expectations. That quiet credibility matters in an organization that values the long game.
Fun Fact
Simpson has yet to hit a single home run in the majors, yet he’s already stolen 75 bases across his first two seasons — placing him among the American League’s speed leaders. His whole approach is a reminder that in modern baseball, you don’t have to hit it over the fence to hurt you. He gets on base, and then he makes your life very difficult.
