Georgia Tech infielder Chandler Simpson might be the best draft-eligible player you’ve never heard of. But more importantly, he might the best person you’ve never heard of too. That figures to change in the coming years.
It’s not often a guy leads the country in hitting with a .434 average playing in the ACC, stealing 27 bags along the way and goes reasonably unheralded in draft circles. Better still, Simpson nearly ran a 2:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio this season for the Yellow Jackets. He’s an on-base machine with elite, game-changing speed. He’s electricity personified on the diamond, all the while handling the rigors and demands of playing shortstop. But in terms of the pro game, slugging is currently king. Exit velocity reigns supreme. That’s not Simpson. But Simpson has never been a loud, rah-rah, look-at-me type of player or person. He’ll let his play, and more importantly his actions, do the talking.
Simpson figures to go somewhere between the second and fourth round this July, though he’s the type of talent that rockets through a minor league system due to his athletic tools and bat-to-ball skills. He may not be the impact slugger that teams look for in the first round, at least not by conventional measures, but he’s the type of guy teams stick at the top of the lineup to create stress on the defense and the opposing pitcher.
Simpson has 80-grade speed and allows his legs to create value in every facet of his game. It should probably come as no surprise he idolized fellow speedsters as a child coming up through the game. Perhaps no one player left a bigger impression on Simpson than did Dee Gordon.
“I look up to Dee, he’s an idol,” Simpson said. “We chat now and again too. He’s a game changer.”
Simpson sees similarities in the potential trajectory of his pro career and how Gordon evolved as a pro. Gordon came up as a shortstop, shifted over to second base and manned centerfield at times in his career. Gordon forced his way into the lineup night in and night out thanks to his speed, bat-to-ball skills and defensive versatility.
“It changes the way a team views you and can use you,” Simpson said. “The ability to play anywhere and contribute in ways other than hitting the ball over the fence, I like that.”
Gordon is lauded for his work off the field in the community. He’s as philanthropic as they come. It’s a trait Simpson wants to be recognized for and carry into his pro career.
During his down time, Simpson spends time reading to children at St. Louis Elementary, as well as participating in food drives at his local church. It’s about more than the game to Simpson, and he said he recognizes that in Gordon too.
“Dee is a team guy. A guy that’ll give you the shirt off his back,” Simpson said. “I just want to help contribute where I can both on and off the field. I’m a team guy in an entire sense, you know? I’m a guy trying to get all of us where we’re trying to go, if that makes sense.”
That’s a big deal for a guy like Simpson who views himself as much more than a baseball player. He’s much more than a statistics type of guy.
Simpson’s exposure to the community isn’t limited to Georgia Tech. He spent much of his summer in 2021 playing in the Northwoods League. The grind of summer ball left an impression on him, but it was the surrounding community he said he may have enjoyed most.
“The people, the community, the schedule… it’s a taste of pro ball I think,” Simpson said. “The people up there love you and love their summer ball. I made a lot of close friends during my time up there and I’m a better player because of it. You play like 55 games in 50 days and the people never stop showing up. The support you get is unmatched.”
From this chair, a guy like Simpson should see his value climb as Major League Baseball continues to tweak its product in an effort to put the game back in motion. The League has suggested making the bases a few inches bigger to increase stolen base attempts. Banning the shift should make athleticism on the infield even more important in the coming years, especially at second base. Exit velocity and launch angle will remain an emphasis but bringing back more excitement on balls in play is coming, and it’s a change Simpson should benefit from.
Simpson is in the business of growing the game both on and off the field. It’s a quality that should make him a favorite in team and league offices. He’s exciting, marketable, and a fantastic ambassador for the game.
Simpson currently ranks as the 121st best prospect in the Prospects Live Top 500, though most do expect him to go earlier than that.