AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 16, 2026

Chandler Simpson

Progressive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame 4 Press Conference

Q. We've seen some good innings from Tampa Bay so far, but we've watched that offense put (indiscernible) a few innings together consecutively. What have those discussions kind of been like behind the scenes? What are you guys seeing as the players at the plate?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Are you talking about offensively?

Q. Yes.

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Just really continue to stay within ourselves, really not trying to do too much. Really nobody needs to be the hero. We all just kind of band together and feed off each other. That's what we've done the whole year.

When times get tough, we don't really need to play hero ball. It doesn't matter who it is. We trust that 1 through 9, anybody in the lineup can come up with a big hit, a timely hit, throughout the game. So just really just be relying on each other.

Q. Yesterday may be one of the first times people were talking about your exit velocity after it hit?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, most definitely. I saw a couple times on social media it was triple digits. I don't really see that too often. But to see the praise for hitting the ball hard, I guess it was a good thing and change.

Q. Do you think that's why you got moved up to third in the order today?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: I didn't know I was hitting third in the order until you just said that.

(Laughter).

Yeah, I don't know. I'm not necessarily just trying to do that. But I mean to stay within my approach at the end of the day.

Q. What do you think it will take to get the offense going? You mentioned no one trying to be the hero. There obviously were a lot of guys swinging really hard and struck out yesterday?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Right. Just really trying to be scrappy, like we've done all year. I mean, just put good ABs together. Nobody really try to hit a three-run homer with nobody on base.

I mean, we just gotta get people on and as much as we can and as efficient as we can and then do our best to move guys over and make sure a lot of people touch home plate.

Q. It used to be guys with your kind of speed were profiled as lead-off hitters or number two hitters. Now you've hit in the middle of the order. What is that like as a speed player? What can you bring to hitting in that part of the lineup that maybe other guys can't?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, I feel like there's a lot that goes into it, especially hitting the middle order with dudes that can hit for power in front of you and dudes that can do the same behind you, or run as well.

Just move defenses around and cause havoc when people are on base or off base. I feel it's effective when there's traffic on the base paths or nobody on to start an inning or keep an inning going.

Just being able to be contact reliant and make sure to put the ball in play, moving the ball forward, and try my best to get on base any way I can.

Q. Watching you for two years now, I've been struck -- I think most of us are -- at how disciplined you are to sticking to the kind of player you. You're a strong guy, I'm sure. You hit the home run in Spring Training, and we all thought, hey, maybe that's going to happen. Have you ever gone through a period, maybe in college or minor leagues, wherever, when you were tempted to deviate at all from it, because your strength is you, but you're pretty unique in your abilities?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, no, I wouldn't say so. Just because it was preached for me from a young age that this is going to be my game, at the end of the day, and it was going to carry me as far as it could.

And never really had the experience of hitting for much power. So I mean it wasn't any type of temptation to veer off that way.

But as I went up levels and continued to see success and know how it can contribute to wins and winning baseball, I was just encouraged by my coaches and mentors to stick to myself, stick to my game and let it carry me all the way.

Q. Is it fun to be a different kind of player? I say this on the air a lot. We always hear about exit velocity, launch angle. You're the opposite of that. When you hit it in the air, it often doesn't go well. When you hit it on the ground, you do your thing. When you hit it soft sometimes, you get hits. When you hit it hard sometimes, it's an out. Is it kind of fun to be against what we've been trained over these last year, I don't know, 10 years to think what makes a successful offensive player?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, most definitely. It's fun to play my game. There's a space and there's a spot for power in our game for sure, but there's definitely a space for contact, getting on base, playing good defense, running, base running, doing all those things that can win games as well that can complement power to a certain extent.

So I feel like it's fun, and I feel like there's definitely a complementary factor that helps winning ball games. I feel like it can't just be all power. But it all can't just be me as well. I feel like it has to work together to pull it out at the end of the day.

Q. There's so many different levels of celebrations. Obviously, on the biggest stage now in the ALCS, you got to hit a triple and then throw up the hooks. To have that level of representation on this stage, what does that mean for you?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: It means a lot. Just honored that I can be part of the fraternity, and that I can represent it in a great way. And the fact that I can inspire other African American males or players to be aware of what the fraternity brings and the success that comes with it.

Q. Chandler, specific to base running, what, if anything, changes for you, adjustments you have to make when it's damp, cold? Does it make it more difficult for you to run? Do you feel different than in better weather?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: No, I don't really think it matters too much to myself on the weather. But I mean, it probably is better to get a bunt down when the grass is wet, things like that.

But I definitely have to be cautious. If it's muddy, then pick my spots knowing everything that goes into base running and stealing bags, with times and things like that, maybe that has to be a factor going into it, based upon the best jump I can get. So definitely a factor that plays into it. But it's just something that I have to play by ear.

Q. We touched on you being a unique player. And Nick Martinez, who starts tonight, is very unique in that he pitches to contact. But he also seems to bring a unique energy. We're not in the clubhouse; what is the energy like when you have Nick pitching on that day?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, it helps a lot. Nick's been a leader for us all year. He's been the bridge that's held us together. When he's on the mound, we know our leader's on the mound, we have to be behind him 100 percent. Like he's been with us all the way. He's the loudest one in the dugout when he's not pitching. When we're down, I mean, he's always trying to get us going and rallying us when we're up.

I mean, we just have to continue to be with him. We know that when he's on the bump, that everybody's going to be behind him.

Q. You mentioned that it was at an early age that your style of play was kind of impressed upon you. We got to see a really cool tribute for your dad earlier this year. How much of his influence was letting you know where your strengths were, and what's that conversation been like throughout this postseason run?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, I mean, my dad is everything. He's why I am the man I am today, and he's exemplified work ethic and perseverance and grit throughout my whole life, something that I've applied to my life as well.

But he's preaching to me every day to stay within myself and to know myself. There's a lot of outside sources that say I need to change or that I need to fit the norm of today's game. But he's always somebody that I have that always reminds me that it's okay to be myself; that it's okay to play my game and that my game contributes to winning baseball.

Q. Just growing up in Atlanta, how much experience have you had in cold weather playing? I mean, we're talking 40s tonight, maybe wind gusts, rain.

CHANDLER SIMPSON: Yeah, maybe not much. But I mean here and there. I mean, it can get pretty cold in Atlanta sometimes. Maybe not a lot. But at the end of the day, when adrenaline's going and things are on the line, I really just put it aside, play the game.

Q. Did you pack a sweatshirt, have any tricks or anything?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: No, probably some hand warmers. But I like to move around, so I won't be really wearing too many layers.

Q. Just talking about the younger generation looking up to you and seeing what you're able to accomplish at this level, how important is that to you to be a beacon of light for people that want to be next?

CHANDLER SIMPSON: It means a lot. It means a lot. I've had people that, when I was younger, that I looked up to. The fact that I'm blessed to be put in the situation and position that I'm able to be an influence and inspiration to the youth, I mean, it's a great position. But it's something that I have to make sure I cross all my Ts, dot all my Is, and make sure I'm being an example for them to know that there's a spot for them in their game, whether they play my game, whether they're African American or things like that, that they can make it to the highest level and be successful at it as well.