‘The Next Goal Is To Do It In The Big Leagues’ | Tampa Bay Rays Prospect Chandler Simpson Becomes First Player To Swipe 100 Bags Since 2012

The art of base stealing was perfected by legendary Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock and Tim Raines, among others.

But over the last 30-plus seasons not many players have been able to reach the 100-steal plateau in the minors or major leagues. In fact, no player has done such since Vince Coleman did it with 109 base thefts in 1987.

While the feat has been reached more in the minors since then it still hasn’t happened often.

Heading into the 2024 minor league season only two players had done so since 2005, with Billy Hamilton tallying 103 steals in 2011 and an astounding 155 in 2012.

 

He was joined by Delino DeShields who stole 101 in 2012 as well.

Chandler Simpson Swipes 100 Bags

 

Last week Tampa Bay Rays prospect Chandler Simpson etched his name on the history books becoming the first minor leaguer to steal 100 bases in 12 seasons.

 

Simpson In Rarified Air

For two seasons Simpson came close to reaching the 100 steal mark. First in 2022 he nabbed 81 steals, and in 2023 he had 94 steals which tied him with good friend and St. Louis Cardinals prospect Victor Scott II. Simpson admitted that he was okay with sharing the mark with Scott last season, but he also let it be known that he was striving for even more this season.

That’s exactly what he’s done with his unique skillset, and even more impressive is he’s done it against Double-A competition. He told reporters this after setting the mark.

“Just knowing what situation to run in and just patience. Knowing that I don’t have to go on the very first pitch and I can wait a pitch or wait a couple of pitches or find a count that is going to be a breaking ball count and then take a bag then. And then using different ways to giving the pitcher different looks; short lead, long lead, vault jump, regular jump. Just having a toolbox and just knowing that I can trust myself with anything that I can use over there at first or at second.”

Stealing bases is an art and Simpson seems to have mastered it. That ability alone will etch out a place for him on any club. He’ll fit seamlessly with the Rays who’s (174) stolen bases as a team ranks fourth in all of MLB.

That’s what Simpson aiming for now, doing it in the majors.

“The next goal is to do it in the big leagues.”

Simpson More Than A Base Path Savant

Simpson’s trademark speed and quickness is what’s talked about most as it pertains to him. And with good reason, he’s accrued 30 multi-steal games and eight others with at least steals. He even reached four steals in a game late August, but that’s just the beginning of who he is as a player.

 

Simpson’s also got a great bat, he leads the minors with 156 hits and a .356 batting average. His .412 on-base percentage ranks 15th, proving that he’s a total package as a a player minus the huge power numbers.

 

He currently projects as the Rays leadoff hitter of the near future with an expected MLB arrival in 2025.