Chandler Simpson has spent his first two big league seasons turning stolen bases into a calling card, and last week he added another line to the record book for the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the third inning against the Atlanta Braves, Simpson swiped his 40th bag of the season. That gave him 40 or more stolen bases in each of his first two Major League seasons, a feat matched by only five players since the Modern SB rule was adopted in 1898: Chad Curtis (1992-93), Delino Deshields (1990-91), Vince Coleman (1985-86) and Bert Daniels (1910-11).
The 25-year-old also became just the third Rays player to reach 40-plus steals in multiple seasons. Carl Crawford did it each year from 2003-07, 2009 and 2010, while B.J. Upton hit the mark three times from 2008-10.
Simpson’s speed has separated him from the rest of the sport since his debut on April 19, 2025. He now has 85 career stolen bases, the most in baseball over that span.
José Caballero, his former Tampa Bay teammate now with the New York Yankees, is next with 75. After that come José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians with 73, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals with 71 and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees with 67.
He entered play on Sept. 12 with 44 steals as a rookie in 2025 and 41 so far in 2026.
The milestone carried extra weight because it happened at Truist Park in Atlanta, where Simpson grew up. It was his first chance to play in his hometown as a big leaguer.
Before the series, Simpson talked about what that return meant to him.
“It'll mean a lot," Simpson said, via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (subscription required). "Just to go back home in front of friends and family, just to be playing a team that I was a big fan of growing up. So, it'd be a pleasure for sure.”
After he reached 40, Simpson reflected on the moment and what it meant to do it there.
“Just blessed with the abilities that I've been given,” Simpson said. “And the fact I was able to get 40 at home, I'm definitely gonna remember that forever.”
With a few weeks still left, Simpson is three stolen bases shy of his career high. Another personal best is within reach, and so is more history.
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