KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chandler Simpson was thrilled to rejoin the Rays on Tuesday.
“Yeah, a lot of excitement,” the outfielder said. “I saw that the team was doing really well, so I knew that it was my job to come and contribute to all that winning.”
And they were happy to have him back, starting him in centerfield against the Royals.
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 on the bases and in the outfield.
But when the Rays needed to make room for fellow rookie outfielder Jake Mangum to come off the injured list on May 30, Simpson was sent back to Triple A.
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.
Simpson, 24, said he got the message.
“Just continue to work on my defense, continue to get on base,” he said. “Just 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.”
Specifically, he said that included “to 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’m paying attention to detail in those things as well.”
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.
Similarly, Simpson said the goal was to pay more attention to detail at the plate, too.
“Just 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,” he said. “… Just trying to get on base any way possible.”
To make room for Simpson’s return, the Rays on Monday sent down fellow rookie outfielder Kameron Misner.
Road warriors
Tuesday was the start of a long road for the Rays.
They play 16 of their next 19 games on the road leading into the All-Star break, 35 of 47 (with only 12 home games until Aug. 19) and 53 of their remaining 84.
That would seem like a big challenge.
But it’s one the Rays say, at least now, they are up for.
“I don’t know if ‘challenge’ is the right word,” outfielder Josh Lowe said. “A challenge in terms of just the travel, that can wear on you, not being home.
“But I feel like this group specifically, we do a great job of keeping business business, kind of worrying about what happens on the field and put everything else behind you when we suit up and go to play. So, I don’t necessarily see it as a challenge. I see it as more of we’re on the road and still just playing baseball.”
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Manager Kevin Cash said being on the road will take the Rays out of the heat and rain they have been battling at Steinbrenner Field.
Pitcher Taj Bradley had a more practical concern.
“I just think finding good places to eat on the road is probably the biggest challenge of all,” he said. “I mean, like, the whole job is to travel. So, I just think that’s pretty much it, you’re on the road, you have to go. It’s not like you choose or not to, so just make the best of it.”
Hit club
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: Yandy Díaz, 13, which was the longest active streak in the majors; Brandon Lowe, 11: Jake Mangum, 10.
• • •
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.