Rays Rookie Chandler Simpson evaluates the second basis on the Infield hit

Associated Press

New York (AP) – Chandler Simpson is so fast that he can score from the second basis on an infield goal.

“He can change a game with such a game,” said Aaron Judge, Star of New York Yankees after the Tampa Bay Rookie triggered the Rays for a 7-5 victory on Sunday. “In any case, it is being excited when I see that he comes to the plate or on the bases.”

One day after his first multi-steal game in the Major Leagues, 24-year-old Simpson raced from second place on Yandy Diaz 'two-hopper to the SHORTSTOP Oswald Peraza for a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. He defeated a single on a routine Grounder in the fifth and stole his sixth basis in 14 games since his debut on April 19. He reached a colorful single in the seventh.

When Simpson arrives on the first basis, he keeps hearing the same question.

“It is like: 'Damn, age, how does it feel to be so fast?'” He recalled. “But the really widespread is: 'What pitch? First or second?' I am like: I don't let you know.

According to the statate, the average sprint speed in the main leagues in competition games is 27 feet per second, and the elite speed is 30 feet per second or higher. Simpson reached a speed of 31.1 when he ran home as Peraza, when Peraza Díaz 'Grounder screamed on the back of the dirt behind second place, rolled onto the outer field grass and got the ball out of his glove.

Peraza grabbed it and dived on the feet, then made a compensation throw that crashed into the hill. Simpson pushed upside down and hit his left hand on the plate.

“It is like the first step that he has carried out at most at full speed. This is quite impressive,” said Ray's manager Kevin Cash.

Simpson was signaled by the third base trainer Brady Williams.

“I looked back and saw the shortstop on the floor, saw the ball on the floor and saw a small daylight,” said Simpson. “So I went ahead.”

An inning later he hit Perazas litter onto a routine Grounder.

“He is as fast as possible,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “Peraza did everything he could probably do, quickly got there, it got rid of something. He is still able to beat it.”

Simpson, a friend of Rays Pitcher Taj Bradley since youth ball in Georgia, recognized his speed during the races in primary school and his neighborhood. He did not run in the St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta because it had the same season in baseball.

Simpson says that he is tied between 3.3 and 3.4 seconds to go home first.

“Only one ability given by God and all the work I put on my speed and recovery and make sure that I am ready to go,” he said.

Simpson played in 2020 and '21 on the UAB and then switched to Georgia Tech in 2022. Selected a total of 70th overall rank through the rays in 2022 amateur draft, he signed for a bonus of $ 747,500.

He stole 94 bases in the Rookie League and two levels of class A in 2023, 104 at High-A and Double-A last year and eight in 17 games at Triple-A Durham, while he met .301 this season. With the rays, Simpson beats with four RBIs in 54 bats .296.

“He sees the best pitching he has ever seen in his life, and he lasts more than himself,” said Cash. “It feels like he has an approach, he knows who he is as a keyman and he can go up there and repeat it several times.”

Simpson came in a professional baseball in the first season after the bases had been increased to 18-inch squares of 15, which lowered the distance between bases by 4 1/2 inches.

“I was thrilled,” he said. “It played a major role in my previous success.”

Bradley was his mentor with the rays. He jokes that he can beat Simpson in a sprint.

“We can test it,” he said with a laugh. “I don't look and the camera doesn't run.”

Simpson didn't have any of it.

“I think I can have that,” he said and giggled.

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