The Tampa Bay Rays announced Friday that they will call up outfield prospect Chandler Simpson from Triple-A Durham and placed utility man Richie Palacios on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Alex Faedo has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
The Tampa Bay Rays have placed INF/OF Richie Palacios (right knee sprain) on the 10-day IL and selected OF Chandler Simpson from Triple-A Durham.
To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Alex Faedo (right shoulder inflammation) has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) April 18, 2025
Rays Call Up Prospect Chandler Simpson
The Rays drafted Simpson, 24, with the 70th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech University. Although he played as an infielder in college, the team moved him to center field after the draft, and he should see the majority of his time in the majors there. The biggest draw with Simpson is his 80-grade speed, as many scouts and insiders have called him the “fastest man in baseball.” He also displays strong bat-to-ball skills and has more walks than strikeouts through 250 games in the minors.
In his first full season in 2023, Simpson spent time in Single-A and High-A ball, hitting a combined .293/.373/.345 with 130 hits and 94 stolen bases. He improved on those numbers in 2024, boosting his average to .355 and stealing 104 bases. Minor League Baseball also selected Simpson for the All-MiLB Prospect Team in 2024.
Simpson entered 2025 as a top-ten prospect in the Rays system and a fringe top-100 prospect in baseball. He impressed in spring training and had a chance to break camp with the Rays despite only playing Double-A baseball previously. The team assigned Simpson to Triple-A Durham at the start of the season, and he played well enough to earn the call-up in Palacios’ place. In 17 games this year, he is hitting .301 with eight stolen bases.
With Palacios, Jonny DeLuca, and Josh Lowe all injured, Simpson may have a path to legit playing time with the Rays. Even if he doesn’t earn an everyday starting spot, his bat-to-ball skills and speed will make him valuable late in close games, and could help the Rays navigate a competitive AL East.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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