Chandler Lenard Simpson Bio
Chandler Lenard Simpson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut on April 18, 2025, after being selected to the 40-man roster from Triple-A Durham. The 2022 second-round draft pick quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic baserunners in professional baseball, combining elite speed with exceptional contact-hitting ability. Simpson represented the United States at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo, where he earned All-World Team honors as an outfielder while leading the event in hits and stolen bases.
Early Life and Background
Chandler Lenard Simpson was born on November 18, 2000. He grew up in Georgia where he attended St. Pius X High School, developing a reputation as an exceptional contact hitter throughout his amateur career. As a senior in 2019, Simpson hit .450, demonstrating the elite bat-to-ball skills that would define his playing style at the next level.
Despite his offensive production in high school, Simpson received limited recruiting interest from college programs. He accepted the only Division I offer he received, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During the summer of 2019 before beginning his college career, Simpson played for the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt Baseball League. He helped the Bucks capture their second consecutive league championship while leading the team in batting average at .402, along with four triples and a .471 on-base percentage.
Path to Professional Baseball
Simpson entered UAB as the starting shortstop for the Blazers, playing 14 games during his true freshman season before the schedule was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the abbreviated campaign, he batted .288 and showed flashes of his baserunning ability by stealing 24 bases in 27 attempts. Following the season, Simpson made the decision to transfer to Georgia Tech to play for the Yellow Jackets.
During his lone season at Georgia Tech in 2022, Simpson emerged as the most prolific hitter in all of Division I baseball. He led the nation with a .434 batting average, showcasing extraordinary consistency and discipline at the plate. After the collegiate season concluded, he continued his development by playing summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier amateur wood-bat leagues in the country. His exceptional collegiate performance and summer league showing positioned him as a highly regarded prospect ahead of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Chandler Lenard Simpson Career
Professional Career Beginnings (2022)
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Simpson in the Competitive Balance section of the second round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the organization and was assigned to the Florida Complex League Rays to begin his professional career. Simpson made an immediate impact in his debut, batting .370 with eight stolen bases in eight attempts across eight games played. The early success demonstrated that his elite contact-hitting ability translated effectively to professional competition.
Minor League Development (2023–2024)
Simpson spent the 2023 season split between the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs and the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods. In 115 combined appearances across both affiliates, he batted .293 with a .373 on-base percentage and a .345 slugging percentage. Notably, he drove in 31 runs while stealing a league-leading 94 bases, tying him with Victor Scott II for the stolen base crown. His performance earned him recognition as one of the top prospects in the Rays organization.
The 2024 season saw Simpson advance to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits while continuing to play for Bowling Green. He appeared in 110 games total, combining to hit .355 with a .410 on-base percentage and .397 slugging percentage. The standout campaign included one home run and 29 RBI, but his most remarkable achievement was stealing 104 bases. Simpson became the first player since Billy Hamilton in 2012 to record 100 or more stolen bases in a minor league season, solidifying his reputation as an elite baserunner. His consecutive seasons as a stolen base leader demonstrated exceptional consistency and baserunning instincts.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2025–Present)
Simpson began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, continuing to refine his game at the highest level of the minor leagues. His strong performance earned him a promotion on April 18, 2025, when the Rays selected his contract and added him to the 40-man roster, making his major league debut. The promotion marked the culmination of his steady progression through the Rays farm system.
Simpson wasted no time making an impact at the major league level. On July 19, 2025, he extended a hitting streak to 18 consecutive games, establishing a new franchise record for rookies. The achievement surpassed the previous mark held jointly by Rocco Baldelli and Delmon Young, who had each posted 13-game streaks. Through late June 2026, Simpson has continued to be a key contributor for the Rays, demonstrating the same elite contact ability and baserunning prowess that characterized his amateur and minor league career.
Playing Style and Strengths
Simpson’s offensive profile centers on exceptional contact-hitting ability and elite baserunning speed. He consistently posts high batting averages at every level, with his career .434 average at Georgia Tech representing the peak of his contact-oriented approach. His strike-zone discipline allows him to get on base at a high rate, setting up numerous opportunities to utilize his game-changing speed. Defensively, he patrols center field with range and reliability. His ability to impact games through both his bat and his legs makes him a multi-dimensional threat in the Rays lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Simpson’s career has been defined by historic stolen base achievements. His consecutive 90-plus steal seasons in the minors, capped by becoming the first player since Billy Hamilton in 2012 to reach 100 steals, established him as one of the premier baserunners in professional baseball. The 2025 rookie hitting streak record he set with the Rays marked his transition to becoming an impact player at the highest level. These accomplishments reflect his consistent ability to affect games with both his speed and his hit tool.
Chandler Lenard Simpson Career Wins
Through late June 2026, Simpson has appeared in 139 major league games with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has accumulated 139 hits including 15 doubles and three triples while driving in 42 runs. His stolen base totals remain impressive at the major league level, with 63 successful thefts during his brief MLB career.
MLB Statistics Highlights
Simpson’s major league statistics through June 25, 2026, reflect his contact-hitting prowess: a .282 batting average with 42 runs batted in and 63 stolen bases. He has yet to hit his first major league home run, but his ability to hit for average, drive in runs, and create chaos on the basepaths provides significant value to the Rays lineup. The 63 stolen bases in fewer than 140 games demonstrates his immediate impact as a baserunner at the highest level of professional baseball.
International Competition
Simpson represented the United States at the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament held in Tokyo, Japan. He performed exceptionally against international competition, batting .459 with 17 hits in 37 at-bats. His ability to produce at a high level against global talent validated his status as one of the top young outfielders in baseball. Simpson was named to the All-World Team as an outfielder, and he led the entire tournament in both hits and stolen bases with seven. The international experience further demonstrated his ability to excel on larger stages.
Family
Personal Life
Public information regarding Simpson’s family background, parents, or personal relationships is limited. He continues to pursue his baseball career with the Tampa Bay Rays organization while residing in the Tampa Bay area during the baseball season.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Simpson’s rookie campaign in Major League Baseball following his promotion from Triple-A Durham in April. He quickly established himself as a key contributor for the Rays, demonstrating the same elite contact ability and baserunning instincts that characterized his minor league career. His offensive production provided immediate value to a Rays team seeking youthful energy and speed at the top of their lineup.
Simpson’s most notable achievement during the 2025 season was the 18-game hitting streak he compiled in July, which set a new franchise record for rookies and demonstrated his ability to produce consistently at the major league level. The streak came against some of the best pitching in baseball and validated his projection as an everyday player capable of impacting games both offensively and with his baserunning.
Throughout the season, Simpson’s baserunning remained a significant weapon for the Rays, contributing stolen bases at a pace that ranked among the team leaders despite his mid-season promotion. His blend of speed, contact ability, and defensive reliability in center field positioned him as a foundational piece for the franchise’s future. The 2025 season served as an introduction to what Simpson can provide over a full major league campaign.