Biscuits' Simpson becomes first player since 2012 to steal 100 bases

Chandler Simpson has run straight into the record books.

The Rays' No. 5 prospect became the first Minor or Major League player since 2012 to reach 100 stolen bases in a season on Sunday -- and he didn't need long to do it.

In the bottom of the first inning of Double-A Montgomery's 10-7 win over Chattanooga at Riverwalk Stadium, the speedy center fielder let a high breaking ball fly by before lining a single into right field. Starting pitcher Thomas Farr (Reds) attempted two pickoffs and threw a pitchout to Tre' Morgan before Simpson swiped his 100th bag.

Of course, Simpson naturally stole third as well and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Carson Williams (TB No. 2). The Atlanta native added one more steal for good measure during the sixth inning of a three-hit, three-run performance.

"I'm feeling ecstatic, feeling relieved, but I feel great," Simpson said. "It was a lot of pressure the whole week, especially with my family coming up. I really wanted to do it in front of them and do it at home. I knew that the other team was trying to stop it and didn't want it to happen. When I got on first and took second, it was just a sigh of relief and then all of that emotion just came out in a scream."

Reaching the century mark has long been a goal for Simpson, who tied for the Minor League lead last year with friend Victor Scott II (Cardinals). After stealing 81 bases in '22 and 94 in '23, Simpson reached rarified air with a week to go in the regular season.

Since 2005, only two other Minor Leaguers have reached the milestone. Billy Hamilton swiped 103 bases in 2011 and 155 in '12, while Delino DeShields nabbed 101 in '12. No Major Leaguer has hit the century mark since Vince Coleman stole 109 bases for the Cardinals in 1987.

Pulling off this career high had an added level of difficulty since he was promoted to Double-A in late May. Southern League catchers have stronger arms, and Simpson noticed that the pitchers pay better attention to runners. But the 23-year-old felt his blossoming skill set on the bases gave him a leg up in reaching triple digits.

"Just knowing what situation to run in and just patience," Simpson said. "Knowing that I don't have to go on the first pitch every time and I can wait a pitch or wait a couple of pitches or find a count that is gonna be a breaking ball count and then take a bag then. And then using different ways of giving the picture different looks: short lead, long lead, vault jump, regular jump. Just having a toolbox and just knowing that I can trust myself with anything that I can use over there at first or at second."

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Simpson has been able to collect stolen bases in bunch, just as he did in his milestone game. He already has 30 multisteal games, including eight with at least three steals. He set a season high of four against Biloxi on Aug. 29.

Of course, to be in position to steal, Simpson has needed to get on base, which he’s done as well as anyone. He leads the Minors with 156 hits and a .356 average, and his .412 on-base percentage ranks 16th. Good health is also a necessity, and he's avoided the injured list throughout his pro career.

Simpson has seven more regular-season games to pad his total before the playoffs. But now that he's finally reached 100 stolen bases in the Minors, what next for the speedster?

"The next goal is to do it in the big leagues."