Speedsters Victor Scott ll who’s the St. Louis Cardinals No.4 ranked prospect and Chandler Simpson the Tampa Bay Rays No.20 ranked prospect have much more in common than wreaking havoc on the base paths. The two talented future major league leadoff hitters are similar in more ways than just what they do best on the baseball field.
For starters they’re both 23 years old, and both are natives of Black baseball’s breeding ground of Atlanta, Georgia. All season, the two good friends and bag blazers battled for the minor league base-stealing title.
Victor Scott II and Chandler Simpson Both Led MiLB With 94 Steals
In the end it looked as if Scott had bested Simpson by one steal with 95. But, when MiLB reversed one of Scott’s base thefts 10 games later, ironically the two finished tied with 94 steals each.
That was good enough for tops in all of the minors, and the most since Billy Hamilton went for 155 steals in 2012, which bested the previous record of 145 by Vince Coleman. Not to be forgotten the great Delino DeShields Jr. chimed in with 105 steals that same season.
Scott And Simpson Talked Often During Season
Even with the two in a tightly contested battle to see who would indeed finish the year at the top, it didn’t affect their communication, in fact Scott told reporters this.
“We talked every day or every other day. Just to kind of see how he’s doing. But to also see where he’s at with stolen bases.”
Nothing like friendly banter, and these two made sure to keep it going all season with Simpson telling reporters this.
“Most definitely I’m looking at his stats. I’m seeing where he is on the leaderboard, and I’m like, OK, maybe I need to get a couple of walks, take a couple of pitches, maybe get some bunts down so I can get on base a couple times more and get some bags.”
The two speedsters not only compete on the baseball field, but in and everything possible. Competition is something that’s a huge part of their friendship.
The Dynamic Duo Was Teammates In 2021
Although they play for different MLB franchises the two burners played together during the 2021 summer wood bat Northwood Bats League. There they wreaked havoc on opposing teams as members of Fon du Lac Dock Spiders. Simpson says they gave pitchers fits when they got on base.
“I was leadoff and he batted second,” Simpson said. “I would bunt, he would bunt. You know, first and second. Steal, steal. Three-hole would hit a single, 2-0 in five minutes. The pitcher is sick.”
Imagine being a pitcher and catcher and trying to get these two out? As Simpson said, it made pitchers sick to their stomach to have both of these guys on the base paths.
Rule Changes Should Only Enhance Stolen Bases
In 2023, and for the first time since 2012, MLB witnessed over 3,000 bases stolen. That can be directly attributed to the huge decrease in pickoff attempts and a base size increase from 15 to 18 inches.
In many ways it’s how the game was once played without all the home runs and swinging for the fences. Instead, manufacturing runs via stolen bases and bunting. It makes the game more exciting for fans and helps creates those electric moments that only seem to occur when some goes yard.
Scott and Simpson will likely be in many stolen base crown battles as they make their way up the minor league ranks. Buckle your seatbelt something tells me this is just the beginning.
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