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Rays' speedster Chandler Simpson improving, succeeding his way originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tampa Bay Rays speedster Chandler Simpson's launch angle on some of his swings would probably register a negative reading.
With players like Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene adopting an overly aggressive uppercut approach, Simpson relies on old-school fundamentals, often swinging for grounders, not homers.
With exit velocities all the rage among MLB's top power producers, Simpson prefers his grounders to be slow-rollers. Any extra step down the first baseline, one of the league's fastest players, remains confident he can outrun most relays.
With the Rays off Thursday, Simpson was afforded a breather. He likely needed one.
In 12 games, the second-year left fielder produced at least one hit in 11, including seven multi-hit efforts.
Is Simpson the league's most improved player this season?
Rays' Chandler Simpson shocking MLB world
With a majority of modern sluggers continuously tweaking their swings to create bat speed and lift, Simpson, who likely would have thrived during the deadball era, looks for pitches he pounds on the ground, generally to the opposite field.
Unless a sharply hit grounder comes within a step or two of the infielders, they will be challenged to throw Simpson out. Already this season, he has compiled eight infield hits.
Simpson's start surprised several insiders.
After registering a 0.8 fWAR in 11 appearances this season, he's already surpassed his 0.7 rookie mark. He is making contact on 95.6 percent of the pitches he swings at in the strike zone. His 4.4 percent strikeout rate was tied for the lowest in the league.
On defense, he was plus-two outs above average after finishing minus-5 in 2025.
Is Simpson the league's most improved - or surprising - player?
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