Fond du Lac Dock Spiders outfielder Chandler Simpson (14) scoops up the ball in the fourth inning Booyah at Capital Credit Union Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Tampa Bay Rays Prospect Chandler Simpson Makes Wild Catch in Spring Training

Originally posted on Minor League Baseball on SI
By Sam Connon | Last updated Feb 22, 2025 4:42 PM ET

Fresh off a historic season on the basepaths, Chandler Simpson continued to show off his speed in spring training.

Simpson came off the bench to serve as the Tampa Bay Rays' center fielder in the sixth inning of Saturday's Grapefruit League showdown with the Boston Red Sox. It wasn't his first appearance of spring training, as the 24-year-old prospect went 2-for-2 against the New York Yankees on Friday.

The Red Sox led 4-1 in the top of the seventh when Simpson – set up in right-center – got his first chance of the afternoon.

Designated hitter Marcelo Mayer got a hold of the first pitch he saw, sending it deep to left-center. Simpson jumped on it right away, though, going into a full sprint before laying out for the diving catch.

Simpson did a somersault and popped back up with a fist pump, all in one swift motion.

CHANDLER SIMPSON, MY GOODNESS

The @RaysBaseball center fielder uses his 80-grade speed to rob Marcelo Mayer of extra bases on an all-out dive: pic.twitter.com/IRFdl0644o
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 22, 2025

Simpson did not make MLB Pipeline's preseason top 100 rankings entering 2025, but he was one of the 10 players who just missed the cut. He ended 2024 ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Rays' farm system, then earned a non-roster invite to spring training camp over the winter.

In 110 games between High-A and Double-A last season, Simpson racked up 104 stolen bases, becoming the first player in either the majors or minors to reach the century mark since 2012. He has averaged 143 stolen bases per 162 games in his minor league career thus far, converting on 86.6% of his attempts.

The Rays selected Simpson in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Through 233 minor league games, he has hit .326 with one home run, 30 doubles, six triples, 63 RBIs, 104 walks, 91 strikeouts and a .768 OPS.

In a poll conducted by MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo earlier this offseason, executives landed on Simpson as the prospect with the best speed tool across all of the minor leagues.

Simpson's speed tool has been graded at an 80, while his hit tool garnered a 65, his field and arm tools earned 50s and his power tool was given a 20.

If Simpson keeps making the kind of plays he did Saturday in Port Charlotte on Saturday, his field tool could grade out higher before he reaches the big leagues.

This article first appeared on Minor League Baseball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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