Early on in the 2025 MLB season, the Tampa Bay Rays rank inside the top five in stolen bases across the league. And that total is only set to improve after the organization decided to call up one of the most unique prospects in all of minor league baseball.
24-year-old outfielder prospect Chandler Simpson has showcased his abilities at the plate throughout his time in the minor leagues, hitting for a .324 batting average and a .389 on-base percentage inn his five seasons across all levels in the minors.
But for as great as Simpson has been against the plate, it is on the base paths where Phillips has truly proven to be special. In 2023, Simpson stole 94 bases in 115 games, which he would only improve on in 2024 with 104 stolen bases in 110 games in 2024.
While the stolen base numbers thus far this season haven’t been quite as impressive, with eight swiped bags in 17 games thus far at the Triple-A level, it seems as if the Rays have seen enough when it comes to the No. 5 ranked prospect in their organization.
According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Rays have made the decision to call up Simpson, who Passan coined the “fastest man in baseball” in his report.
The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up outfielder Chandler Simpson, the fastest man in baseball, sources tell ESPN. Simpson, 24, stole 104 bases in 110 games last year and has eight steals in 17 games along with a .301 batting average at Triple-A this season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 18, 2025
The likes of Elly De La Cruz and Bobby Witt Jr. may have a legitimate claim to being the “fastest man in baseball”. But still, Simpson should undoubtedly provide a boost on the base paths for the Rays that very few players in the sport can match.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.