Tampa Bay Rays Top Prospect Made History on Bases in 2024

With the calendar year of 2024 winding down, it's time to take a look back at some of the biggest accomplishments of the year.
For the Tampa Bay Rays, one of the biggest organizational accomplishments was the pure dominance of top prospect Chandler Simpson.
From MiLB.com:
The No. 70 overall pick in the 2022 Draft became the first Minor Leaguer to eclipse the century mark in steals since 2012 with his performance at High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery. Unlike in 2023, when Simpson tied his friend Victor Scott II atop the MiLB leaderboard with 94 each, no one was all that close to him this year. Orioles No. 4 prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. finished second with 74. Simpson could put 110 in play if he spends another full season in the Minors in ‘25, but it’s likelier he ends up with Tampa Bay by then if this trend continues.
⚫️ 104 stolen bases
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 19, 2024
⚫️ 180 OPS+
⚫️ 0.6 BB/9 rate
There were history-making and eye-popping stats all across the prospect landscape in 2024.
We bring you one from each organization: https://t.co/6I3expzgwr pic.twitter.com/WVPkPHomY4
The 24-year-old Simpson is ranked the No. 4 overall prospect in the Rays organization, per MLB.com. In addition to his game-breaking speed, he also hit .355 in 110 games this year. He posted a .410 on-base percentage. He doesn't possess much in the way of power, having hit just one home run, but that speed should keep him around for years to come.
The Rays went 80-82 this season, finishing in fourth place in the American League East. They'll spend the 2025 season playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field because of damage sustained by Tropicana Field during Hurricane Milton this past October.
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