KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 Chandler Simpson was thrilled to rejoin the Rays on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, a lot of excitement,\u201d the outfielder said. \u201cI saw that the team was doing really well, so I knew that it was my job to come and contribute to all that winning.\u201d<\/p>\n
And they were happy to have him back, starting him in centerfield, where manager Kevin Cash said he will play \u201cpredominantly … for the foreseeable future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simpson, considered by many the fastest player in the game, had a significant impact when first called up in mid-April. He energized the team, hitting .285, stealing 19 bases in 22 chances, and making highlight plays all over.<\/p>\n
But with fellow rookie outfielder Jake Mangum coming off the injured list on May 30, Simpson was sent back to Triple A.<\/p>\n
His assignment was twofold: to improve his play in the outfield, where he had already been moved from center to left; and to find ways to get on base more, with his .315 on-base percentage and strikeout\/walk ratio of 14\/6 noted.<\/p>\n
Simpson, 24, said he got the message.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust continue to work on my defense, continue to get on base,\u201d he said. \u201cJust continue to hone in on my craft and work on my game. Continue to just hone in on little things, pay attention to details and continue to progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Specifically, he said that included \u201cto know situations of the game, in the outfield get behind the balls, make plays easier, (better) routes, jumps, everything like that. Continue to do a lot of early work and just make sure I\u2019m paying attention to detail in those things as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 16 games for Durham in June, he hit .366 with a .416 on-base percentage as part of an .881 OPS. He stole 11 bases without being caught and struck out only eight times in 71 at-bats while drawing six walks.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Simpson said the goal was to pay more attention to detail at the plate, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust making sure I was locked in on every pitch, every (at-bat) doing all that I could to get on base no matter if it was the first pitch or the seventh pitch of the AB,\u201d he said. \u201c… Just trying to get on base any way possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cash said got a good report from Durham manager Morgan Ensberg.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorgan said he\u2019s been a man on a mission as far as what he\u2019s doing in the box and what he\u2019s doing defensively,\u201d Cash said. \u201cWhen you give a guy a message, it\u2019s very easy (for him) to go down and be frustrated and take three, four, five days or even more and not be happy and not maybe putting forth your best effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cChandler did not do that. He got there, started playing and went right to work. And everybody said that.\u201d<\/p>\n
To make room for Simpson\u2019s return, the Rays on Monday sent down fellow rookie outfielder Kameron Misner.<\/p>\n
StreakingRays outfielders Jake Mangum, left, and Jose Caballero celebrate after Tuesday’s win over the Royals in Kansas City. [\u00a0CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP\u00a0]Stay updated on Tampa Bay\u2019s sports scene<\/p>\n
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida\u2019s college football teams every day.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re all signed\u00a0up!<\/p>\n
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0inbox? Let\u2019s\u00a0get\u00a0started.<\/p>\n
Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n The Rays went into play Tuesday with three players having active hitting streaks of 10 or more games for the first time in franchise history.<\/p>\n By night\u2019s end, Yandy D\u00edaz extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest active such run in the majors, and stretched his on-base streak to 18 games and his streak of multi-hit games to a career-high tying six games. Brandon Lowe didn\u2019t play, so he still has his 11-game streak, but Mangum\u2019s streak ended at 10. … Curtis Mead grounded into a double play in the first, ending his streak of reaching base in consecutive plate appearances at nine, one shy of the team record. <\/p>\n Miscellany<\/p>\n Infielder\/outfielder Richie Palacios (right knee sprain) was pulled off his rehab assignment at Durham due to intermittent soreness. Cash said there was no reinjury, just \u201che\u2019s not moving like he wants to move.\u201d … Infielder Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder surgery recovery) went 3-for-4 with two walks while playing shortstop in his 16th game. … The Rays won their 10th straight series-opening game. … In a news release sent ahead of Thursday\u2019s verdict announcement<\/a> in the Dominican Republic, the prosecutor\u2019s office \u201cexpressed confidence that the Puerto Plata Collegiate Court will grant their request and issue a five-year prison sentence\u201d against Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who is charged with child sexual abuse. … Outfielder\/DH Eloy Jimenez was reinstated to active duty at Durham, having missed five weeks with right Achilles tendinitis.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n