“He’s Outside Of That Norm” | Tampa Bay Rays 2022 Draft Pick Chandler Simpson Led College Baseball With .433 Batting Average

“He’s Outside Of That Norm” | Tampa Bay Rays 2022 Draft Pick Chandler Simpson Led College Baseball With .433 Batting Average

by | Sep 13, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

The Tampa Bay Rays have long prided themselves on competing in an uber tough American League East with shrewd drafting, outside-the-box talent evaluation and an elite application of advanced metrics.

Tampa has held its own in a division which features powerhouse franchises like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. And with the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles showing some real signs of life, it’s imperative that the Rays — who aren’t known for pursuing All-star free agents — keep adding quality talent to the roster. Adding someone of rookie Chandler Simpson’s talent level (70th pick in the 2022 Draft) only increases that talent pool and keeps the foundation solid for the future. 

Chandler is a smooth, high average slugging second baseman and shortstop who’s didn’t strikeout more than sixteen times in each of his final two college seasons. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets star stole the show at the plate on many occasions, displaying the innate ability to pull the baseball, while hitting for average and with power.

Simpson Possesses Great Speed

During his last year at GT, Simpson stole 27 bases, which is another tool that will serve him well at the next level. His coach at GT, Danny Hall, said he’s never seen a player with speed like Simpson. Hall has coached baseball for over four decades and had this to say about his star pupil.

 “I’ve never seen anyone score from second base on a sacrifice fly.”

 “If it’s anyone else running you’re not scoring in that situation.”

 

 

Simpson has shown a knack for bunting and turning them into base hits. He’s routinely turned singles into triples. Beating out grounders is something he does regularly. He’s so impressive on the base pads and in the field, Rays senior director of amateur scouting Rob Metzler described his as having “top-of-the-scale” speed.

 Led NCAA In Batting Average

Simpson’s bat along with that speed makes him a dangerous weapon. He led all of NCAA baseball with a whopping (.433) batting average. With his elite wheels the Rays plan is to develop him as an outfielder, probably centerfield with his elite range and athleticism.

Perry Roth, his coach at UAB for two seasons, who’s now his hitting coach at Birmingham Class-A, spoke on the demise of baseball and how Simpson has avoided all of that.

 “Baseball has become kinda one-sided to a certain extent of one of its three outcomes: walk, homerun or strikeout.”

“And he’s outside of that norm.”

 

 

Simpson prides himself on being unrelenting and aggressive at all times on the field. He believes that’s the only way to play the game. He also uses that motto as it pertains to his low strikeout numbers, which is proof of the hard work he puts into his craft daily.

 “Just trying to have that relentlessness of not accepting strikeouts,” Simpson said. In an age where the strikeout is as common as the walk, Simpson is dedicated to contact with impact. 

 

Simpson sounds just like most Rays players, fundamentally sound and prepared. That’s how the Rays have been able to compete in a division where two of their rivals have unlimited resources and deep pockets. Tampa has to resort to the throwback style to keep up, and that’s draft talented baseball players to have any chance to keep up and compete.

“I’m About To Go Where My Granny’s Gonna Be My Biggest Fan” | Yankees Great CC Sabathia’s Son, Carsten Ready To Slug Away For Georgia Tech

“I’m About To Go Where My Granny’s Gonna Be My Biggest Fan” | Yankees Great CC Sabathia’s Son, Carsten Ready To Slug Away For Georgia Tech

by | Jul 30, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

Former Yankees legend CC Sabathia accomplished a lot as a pitcher. The physically imposing 6-foot-6, flamethrowing lefty won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, and a World Series with the Bronx Bombers in 2009. Sabathia who was taken 20th overall in the 1998 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians (Guardians), also became the 17th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 strikeouts.

He’s also the third lefty to ever reach the mark. CC finished his career tied with the great Bob Gibson in wins by a Black pitcher with (251), only trailing Ferguson Jenkins.

Now in retirement CC is guiding his son, Carsten, a 6-foot-4 and 240-pound slugger who’s headed to Georgia Tech. The power-hitting first baseman has displayed tremendous pop from both sides of the plate, and that unique trait got him some looks in last week’s MLB Draft. Carsten projects as a first baseman in the mold of former Phillies great Ryan Howard.

 

 

When he committed to the “Rambling Wreck,” in February, Carsten had this to say: “I’m about to go where my granny’s gonna be my biggest fan.” Carsten’s grandmother lives near the Atlanta institution.

Carsten Goes Off The Grid: Not A Pitcher Like Dad

While most MLB father-son duos are usually hitters or position players, CC and Carsten are polar opposites with dad being a pitcher and Carsten being a slugging infielder. But that isn’t the only difference, as Carsten is much more mobile and agile than his hulking dad.

 

 

That skillset made him one of the top 400 prospects in this year’s MLB Draft. While he wasn’t drafted, he’s headed to Georgia Tech where he’ll continue to develop as a hitter and overall player.

 Carsten Was A Coveted Recruit: Why Did GT Win Out?

While Carsten chose GT to continue his baseball career, he was a highly sought-after recruit with offers from Harvard, UCLA and Wake Forest to name a few. Following his commitment, in an interview with Northjersey.com he explained why the Yellow Jackets were the right fit for him, beyond being near his grandmother.

“Since Day 1, the first time I came in contact with them, they were all about family, and the culture, and the culture of winning that it takes to play at Georgia Tech. And once I started to get into conversations, not just about baseball, but about family, life, and things outside the white lines, I fell in love.”