Chandler Simpson, the Tampa Bay Rays’ rookie, who could steal 100 bases in a single season

Chandler Simpson is far from being one of those fleeting stories that tend to crop up around this time of year. With less than a month in Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays rookie has reignited a statistical feat that seemed buried since the 1980s: the elusive 100 stolen bases in a single season.

Chandler Simpson’s blistering speed

Drafted by the Rays and promoted to the major league team in April 2025, Simpson embodies a type of player that seemed out of place in the modern era of power-hitting and AI-driven lineup algorithms—the impactful speedster. His return to the art of base-stealing has captivated fans and breathed new life into a skill once considered overshadowed by brute strength at the plate.

In his debut, Simpson showcased his unparalleled speed by clocking the fastest time to first base on an infield hit—just 3.9 seconds. No other batter has beaten this record so far this year. This statistic highlights the key weapon Simpson brings to the game: his ability to fundamentally alter its dynamics through sheer speed.

Simpson isn’t waiting for the big hit; he creates disruption himself, from the batter’s box to home plate.

His minor league record is even more telling. Over 225 games between 2023 and 2024, he stole an astonishing 198 bases with a success rate exceeding 85%. Translated to the new MLB rules, this pace makes him a serious threat. Simpson is no longer just a promising player—he’s a defensive headache.

New context favors speedsters

The rules have changed, and so has the game. Base sizes increased by 3 inches on each side (from 15 to 18), effectively shortening the distance between them. Pitchers are now limited to two pickoff attempts per at-bat, and the pitch clock forces quicker action, leaving little room for deception. In short, runners have gained time.

In 2023, MLB recorded over 3,300 stolen bases—the most since 1987. The game is moving again. By 2025, with rookies like Simpson and teams diversifying offensive strategies, base-stealing is no longer a statistical luxury. It’s become a tactical weapon, reshaping the sport’s dynamics.

Simpson came into the league with the perfect tools: natural speed, advanced pitcher reading skills, and an impeccable sense of timing. But what sets him apart isn’t his physique—just 165 pounds—nor his college background at Georgia Tech. It’s his uncanny ability to turn every walk into an automatic double.

The Tampa Bay Rays, a team renowned for extracting value from the margins, have found a game-changer in Chandler Simpson—an asset that rewrites the script without relying on power hitting. His batting average is solid, but his on-base percentage (OBP) becomes far more impactful as soon as he turns into a threat from his first step on base.

Simpson doesn’t fit the traditional mold. He lacks power and won’t rack up 100 RBIs in a season. But he generates runs in a way few players can.

In an era when Ronald Acuña Jr. achieves a stunning 70-40 stat line (stolen bases and home runs) and Shohei Ohtani dazzles with a rare 50-50 performance, Simpson offers a different kind of rarity: an absolute specialist in the art of running, reminiscent of MLB legend, the late Rickey Henderson.

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