Rays top prospect Chandler Simpson opens up about his journey to the big leagues

MLB Develops alum Chandler Simpson opened up about his journey to the Major Leagues, earning a call-up to the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2025 MLB season. Simpson talked about what it meant for him to have his family on hand for his MLB debut earlier this season.

Here’s what the 24-year-old Rays’ infielder expressed in an X post published by MLB Develops on April 26 about getting the call to the major leagues:

“I was getting ready to go to the field, had a late day that day… And, I was going to go to the field to get a lift in at like at 2:00 when the clubhouse opened, the weight room opened. And at 1:30, I got a call from my manager on Triple A… and I thought I was late for a meeting or late for something… you have to come to the field because you’re going to the big leagues.”

The phone call was the first step to fulfilling Chandler Simpson’s dream of playing in the Majors. But getting the call from his manager was just the beginning of a dream come true moment for the Rays’ top prospect.

Simpson expanded on what it meant to get his family’s support for his MLB debut:

“That was amazing, for them to make the drive down and make the transportation down that quick was a blessing, for sure, just to have that support.”

Simpson’s family was there to see him get a huge hit to cap off a memorable MLB debut. He concluded:

“To come up in that big situation and come in, in the night and get the win versus a great closer in Devin Williams and be able to get the knock and spark the rally to come back and win. I mean, that was amazing.”

The Rays hope that Simpson is here to stay as the club looks to compete for a playoff spot this season.

Looking at Chandler Simpson’s numbers in 2025 with Tampa Bay Rays

Chandler Simpson has yet to earn a full-time role with the Rays. Nevertheless, the Rays’ top prospect has gotten a long look this season, appearing in seven games so far.

In his first seven games, Simpson has 23 plate appearances, notching two RBIs, two walks and two stolen bases to go with a .304 batting average.

Simpson has also played well on the field, going 17-for-17 in fielding opportunities in 57 innings across seven games, six of them. starts.

With those numbers early on, Simpson looks like a solid option for the Rays’ infield this season. The team hopes he can become a fixture in their infield for the foreseeable future.

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Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early ’90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can’t for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash