One of the fastest players in baseball is headed to the major leagues.
The Rays promoted outfielder Chandler Simpson from Triple-A Durham on Friday ahead of their 1-0 loss to the Yankees.
Simpson received the call-up after utility player Richie Palacios went on the injured list with a right knee sprain.
The 24-year-old stole 104 bases across Tampa Bay’s High-A and Double-A affiliates last season.
He also led all of the minor leagues with a .355 batting average.
Simpson was drafted by the Rays in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and has since risen to the team’s No. 7-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline.
During his tenure in the minor leagues, Simpson has stolen 224 bases in 250 games, for an 86.5 percent success rate.
Individuals around Major League Baseball have noted Simpson’s unique style of play, as his speed and bat-to-ball skills resemble players from previous generations.
Former MLB outfielder Marquis Grissom created the nickname “Little Tony Gwynn” for Simpson, saying that the Georgia native’s play style is similar to the Hall of Fame.
“I would buy a ticket to watch him play,” Rays outfield and baserunning coordinator Jared Sandberg told The Athletic. “I just wouldn’t miss the first four pitches because he might already be in the dugout with a run on the scoreboard.”
Prior to being called up to the big leagues, Simpson was hitting .301 with eight stolen bases in 17 games with Durham.
He really turned eyes when he got an infield single after hitting a ball directly to the first baseman earlier in April.
“I think, in theory, that he adds an element to any lineup with how fast he is, his contact ability,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday afternoon, per MLB.com.
“I think he’s going to get an opportunity here, a little bit of a runway. We’ll see. I don’t know if it’ll be a short stint, long stint.”
