Chandler Simpson continues to be one of Tampa Bay’s biggest bright spots despite the Rays’ recent struggles. Simpson extended his hitting streak to 13 games Saturday and has used his speed, improved defense and consistency at the plate to become an important piece of Tampa Bay’s push for the AL East
Despite the recent losing streak, the Tampa Bay Rays had plenty of things to be excited about when it comes to their roster.
Entering the game on Saturday, Chandler Simpson has recorded 61 hits since the start of July, which is the most of any batter in Major League Baseball. In the loss to the Orioles, Simpson picked up another hit in the sixth inning, extending his streak to 13 straight games.
Overall, he's hitting .308 this season, and despite a lack of power, he still finds a way to get a .698 OPS. He is certainly having a great second half of the season for Tampa Bay.
So far this season, Simpson has 140 hits, second only to Yandy Diaz on the team (150). This mark is also good enough for 10th best across all of baseball.
With the addition of Liam Hicks to the batting order to help bolster the catching department, players like Simpson have truly been an energizer for the offense in the second half. He has found ways to succeed regardless of where Kevin Cash decides to place him in the order. He's found himself at leadoff or in the nine hole and still finds ways to have an average over .300 as we near the month of September.
The best part about Simpson is he doesn't have to be a home run hitter to find success. His speed certainly helps him get on the basepaths, and when he does, he's certainly a threat to steal a bag.
Simpson is second in baseball and first in the American League with 35 steals this season, and despite being caught stealing 12 times this year, only one has occurred after the All-Star break. This shows he's only getting better as the season progresses.
Everything seems to be going right for Simpson as he looks to finish his second season in the major leagues. Defense has also been a huge improvement this season. Last year, after his call-up, he was briefly sent back down to the minors to focus on improving his defensive skills. That has not been an issue this season, as he has been a mainstay in the Tampa Bay lineup, playing in 121 of the 129 games the Rays have had this year.
The Rays will need that speed and volume on the basepaths if they look to continue their winning ways at the top of the American League East standings, heading into the final few months of the season. The team currently only holds a three-game lead over the New York Yankees for the division lead, and after a rough homestand, players like Simpson must help them bounce back quickly before it's too late.
