It’s not hyperbolic to claim that Chandler Simpson's 2026 regular season was remarkably unique.
For a Rays team that led the American League with 98 wins -- they’ll face the Yankees in the ALDS beginning on Saturday -- Simpson was dynamic in a way that is a throwback to a bygone era. The 25-year-old Simpson accumulated 2.3 WAR, per FanGraphs, despite not hitting a single home run this season.
That was thanks to the second-best batting average (.306) in the American League, a near-league average batting line, the most stolen bases (46) in the AL and much-improved defense. In an era where hitting home runs is almost a prerequisite to being an everyday player, Simpson defied that notion with a classic season straight out of the 1980s.
Here’s a deeper look at Simpson’s excellent and unique 2026 regular season and what to expect in the postseason.
The rarity of hitting .300 with no home runs
Simpson finished fairly close to winning the batting title without hitting a home run, something that hasn’t been done since Rod Carew in 1972. Simpson’s .306 batting average finished second to Yordan Alvarez’s .316 mark.
Despite not securing the batting title, Simpson became the first qualified player to bat .300 with no home runs in a season since Luis Castillo did it for the Marlins in 1999. That feels like an appropriate comparison, as Castillo carved out a highly productive 15-year career despite only hitting 28 home runs, thanks to similar skills as Simpson.
If you want to extend this unique skill set further, you can add in Simpson’s ability to swipe bases. In the Modern Era (since 1900), Simpson is just one of nine players to qualify for the batting title, hit .300 in a season with no home runs and also steal more than 40 bases. The aforementioned Castillo did it in 1999, and other examples include Ozzie Smith in 1987, Maury Wills in 1963 and Eddie Collins twice in the 1910s.
Simpson has yet to hit a home run in the Majors and he only hit one during his time in the Minors. If Simpson keeps this same level moving forward, he could really establish himself as a unicorn in this era.
Baserunning prowess and improved defense
Simpson had steady gains across the board on offense this year, but it wasn’t the only area where he did well.
After swiping 44 bases in 2025, he stole 46 bases in 2026, leading the American League in the process. That means it’s been three straight years that a Rays player led the AL in stolen bases, after José Caballero did it for Tampa Bay in 2024 and for the Rays and Yankees last season. It marked the seventh time a Rays player led the AL in stolen bases or was tied for the lead -- Carl Crawford did so four times in the 2000s.
In terms of adding value on the bases, Simpson added eight runs, according to Statcast’s baserunning value, tied with Pete-Crow Armstrong for the third-most in all of baseball. Only Corbin Carroll (+9) and Bobby Witt Jr. (+9) added more value as a baserunner in 2026.
Perhaps the most important development from Simpson in 2026 was going from one of baseball’s worst defenders to one of the best. Despite top-shelf speed, Simpson ranked near the bottom of the league in various outfield metrics in 2025, whether it was Outs Above Average (-5) or Defensive Runs Saved (-9).
Simpson completely reversed that in 2026. And it wasn’t simply moving full time to left field this year -- he equally struggled in left and center field in 2025. As a left fielder this year, Simpson has shown huge improvements. He accumulated eight Outs Above Average, which placed him in the 93rd percentile of all players. And he was also worth eight Defensive Runs Saved.
Add everything up and it makes for an exciting player, especially given the current era he plays in. To essentially provide league-average value as an everyday player, despite not hitting any home runs, speaks to the rest of his skill set. Given all of this, look out for Simpson as a player to watch in the postseason.