Top prospects' speed keys Rays' Spring Breakout win

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- With two of the fastest prospects in baseball batting back to back in Spring Breakout, it might come as no surprise that a track meet broke out.

Rays outfielders Chandler Simpson and Homer Bush Jr. put on a display of pure speed in the Rays¡¯ 7-5 win over the Red Sox on Thursday night at Charlotte Sports Park, providing some of the best moments during a night full of highlights in the second annual prospect showcase between two of the top Minor League systems in the game.

¡°It goes to show you how good both teams are,¡± said top prospect Carson Williams, who made his presence felt by crushing a 107 mph, 413-foot homer to left-center field in the eighth inning. ¡°Lot of hitting, lot of good defense. And it was pretty special to play in this game.¡±

While Boston¡¯s ¡°Big 3¡± bashed balls out of the ballpark, Tampa Bay¡¯s deep and talented roster prevailed with a mix of power, pitching, defense and, of course, speed.

Simpson and Bush both possess 80-grade speed on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. If Bush (the Rays¡¯ No. 17 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) is a top-of-the-scale runner, Simpson (No. 7) might break the scale entirely. While Bush stole 57 bases in 114 games last season, Simpson swiped 104 in 110 games.

Both burners know how to add value on the basepaths, and they put their wheels to good use against the Red Sox.

¡°It was super cool. I think Chandler is one of the only guys in all of baseball that can kind of compete with me in speed, and I think the same vice versa,¡± Bush said. ¡°So to get the opportunity to show that off together was cool.¡±

Batting ninth, Bush led off the third inning by slapping a grounder to second base and taking off down the first-base line. His speed helped force an error, allowing him to reach safely. Up came Simpson, the Rays¡¯ leadoff man.

Looking to exploit every possible advantage to be found in his unique, old-school skill-set, Simpson has worked hard on his bunting over the years. He¡¯s studied video of fellow speedsters like Dee Strange-Gordon and Billy Hamilton, observing how they deadened the ball and pushed it toward third base. He¡¯s practiced his bunting before, during and after batting practice.

¡°Just knowing that¡¯s another tool in the toolbox to get on base, definitely, when the opportunity presents itself in that situation in the game,¡± Simpson said recently. ¡°Making sure I hone in on the skill and making sure it¡¯s tight when I need to put it into use.¡±

He did just that against the Red Sox, dropping a perfect bunt then dashing to first. Then, the race was on.

¡°Whenever we had first and second, it was one of those, like, 'What's understood doesn't even have to be said'-type deals. Like, we were going to be going,¡± Bush said. ¡°We¡¯re on the same wavelength.¡±

¡°I already knew what it was. I already knew he was going,¡± Simpson confirmed. ¡°He gave me a little head nod. I gave him a head nod. Then we were on second and third before I knew it.¡±

Simpson and Bush took off as Boston right-hander Connelly Early faced Williams. Bush slid safely to third, beating the throw, then scored on Williams¡¯ groundout to first base. Simpson advanced on the groundout, naturally, and dashed home on Bob Seymour¡¯s single to right.

¡°They made the first run of the game happen for us. I kind of nicked one and got 'em in just because they double stole,¡± Williams said. ¡°It got us a win today, so it was pretty cool.¡±

They were at it again in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third, Bush smacked an RBI single to right and immediately stole second. Simpson used his remarkable bat-to-ball ability to lace a line drive to right field, scoring the runner from third with a sacrifice fly. Bush later scored on Brayden Taylor¡¯s single to right, capping the Rays¡¯ three-run inning.

¡°It¡¯s so rare. I love playing with those two guys. They fly around,¡± said Cooper Kinney, the Rays¡¯ No. 24 prospect, who led their lineup with three hits as the designated hitter. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly my style of play, but it¡¯s awesome. It¡¯s so exciting to get to watch them play every day.¡±

The running Rays¡¯ big night prompted an obvious question afterward: Who¡¯s winning that race, Simpson or Bush?

¡°I think he would get me in a 40[-yard dash]. I think I could get him in a 60,¡± Bush said, smiling. ¡°But I think it would be super close, either way.¡±

¡°Today, he showed it off,¡± Simpson added, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m gonna still pick myself over anybody, but he had a great game.¡±