Chandler Simpson is moving up the MLB leaderboard and Rays lineup

CHICAGO - Through the first 2 ½ weeks of the season, Chandler Simpson has been a problem.

Primarily, of course, for opposing teams.

He is hitting as well and as much as anyone in the majors, going into play Tuesday leading the American League and ranking second overall with a .411 average.

He is making good decisions at the plate, taking advantage of what the defense gives him, bunting at will and lacing balls to the outfield on occasion.

Add that to his elite speed that puts extra bases to his hits and produces more run-scoring opportunities for his teammates, and also turns defenses into a mess as he forces physical and mental mistakes.

"He was a thorn for us, no question about it," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said during the weekend sweep by the Rays at Tropicana Field. "He's definitely a guy you want to keep off the bases, but he put together a really good series."

Simpson, 25, talks a lot about creating and causing havoc when he plays, and he has done plenty of that so far.

In addition to his shiny batting average, he was first in the AL, and tied for second overall, with 23 hits. He ranked seventh overall with a .441 on-base percentage. He was second with seven steals. And, most impressively, he reached base in each of the Rays' first 15 games (14 with hits).

What's he done well?

"Everything," Rays hitting coach Chad Mottola said. "It's the growth of the player and knowing his DNA."

The Rays saw signs this spring that Simpson had improved from his 2025 debut season, when he hit .295 (with 104 singles of his 122 hits), posted a .326 on-base percentage and stole 44 bases in 56 attempts over 109 games.

Manager Kevin Cash noted several markers: How Simpson used the whole field, drove the ball more, was more selective and willing to take walks.

"He's got an unbelievable knack for understanding what the defense and the pitcher combination is trying to do to him, and finding holes," said Cash, noting his sweet spot "for hitting that line drive over the shortstop's head."

Simpson said the success isn't the product of any significant changes to his game, just him getting more comfortable with what he does and how it works best with his elite speed.

"I just feel like I'm just committed to my plan every time I'm at the plate," he said. "Just know who I am, honestly. Just continue to stay present in the moment and just knowing what my skillset (is), what I'm trying to do. Never try to do too much at all, just trying to get on base."

It's been clear in just about every game how, and how much, Simpson can be a catalyst.

"Huge impact," said Rays shortstop Taylor Walls. "Any ball that's not hit right an outfielder feels like a triple, at least. If he gets on first, he's on third in five pitches (by stealing). Then there's no contact play to where anybody (can get him), so they might as well play back. And it feels like a pop up to the deep infield is going to be an RBI fly ball."

And that's not all of it.

"His impact with his legs - I don't think people realize how much pressure it puts on a defense to be perfect," Walls said. "I mean, you have to be perfect. And even sometimes perfect is not good enough.

"And whenever you feel like you're in that kind of mentality defensively, a lot of mistakes are going to happen that shouldn't happen."

Veteran pitcher Nick Martinez is also a fan, raving not only about what Simpson does, but how he plays the game, noting the energy he brings and the exuberance he has for his teammates' success as well.

"That's someone to me that really loves winning and competing. And that attitude and that passion is contagious," Martinez said.

As for Simpson's talent?

"That speaks for itself, man," Martinez said. "He's so dangerous out there. His bat-to-ball skills are incredible, and then you mix that in with his speed, every single can turn into a triple in a blink of an eye. And that translates to his defense, tracking down balls. It's a big part of his game."

Simpson's improvement in the outfield doesn't get noticed as much but that might actually be a bigger accomplishment. He was sent down last season to address his defense, had a pre-spring tutorial with four-time Gold Glove winner Kevin Kiermaier and works daily with new outfield/baserunning coach Corey Dickerson, who calls the difference "night and day," and more on the mental side.

So back to Simpson being a problem.

His sizzling start at the plate has been good for the Rays in so many ways. But it also created considerable discussion for his Rays bosses on where he was hitting in the lineup.

Initially, he was near the bottom, batting sixth, seventh or eighth in six of his first seven starts. Then he was used in an unusual role, protecting their big bats, slotted third one day ahead of Junior Caminero and the next three games behind him at fifth.

Not that Cash cared much, but fans were complaining, radio hosts squawking and MLB Network analysts taking big swings.

"How is he hitting fifth?" former big-league All-Star Harold Reynolds said on MLB Tonight. "That's somebody really throwing numbers up and going, ‘What are we going to do?' He hits 1, 2 or 9. It's real simple. … He's hitting five, behind your No. 1 power hitter. It makes no sense.''

The Rays weren't immune to what seemed obvious - at least in old-school baseball - to move the speedy guy who is getting on base a lot to the top of the order. Cash acknowledged as much April 3, saying he appreciated the thought that Simpson could, and "very well may be" a "prototypical" leadoff hitter "but right now, he's not."

Some people took that to mean the Rays were being stubborn or too smart, or trying to appease Yandy Diaz, who is also off to a hot start, by keeping him in the leadoff spot.

But it was actually Cash and the Rays trying to protect Simpson until they felt he was ready. Sometimes the point isn't that a hitter should be moved but more that he does well because he's at the bottom of the order, or because he doesn't play against lefty or righty pitchers.

Friday, Cash decided the lefty-swinging Simpson was ready for the opportunity and batted him leadoff that night and Sunday against right-handed starters. That seems likely to continue, and he'll bat lower when playing vs. lefties.

"We talked a lot throughout spring training. We've tried to prioritize getting Chandler going," Cash said Friday. "He's still a very young player. (He's) had some success. I'm happy with the first 12 to 13 games that we've played the way he swung the bat.

"I think he kind of fits that prototypical leadoff mold. We'll see how it goes. I don't think we're convicted that this is how we're going to run out the next month of lineups, but see if he can spark us a little bit and get on base for some of the thumpers behind him."

So far, he's done everything well.

• • •

Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.

Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 4:18 PM.