Will Simpson is the Best Baseball Player You’ve Never Heard Of

Will Simpson is the best baseball player you’ve never heard of. He’s got a great batting average, he’s a great fielder, and he’s got a great arm. He’s also a great guy, and he’s always willing to help out his teammates.

Introduction

Everyone has that one sports hero that they grew up idolizing. For some, it’s someone who played in the big leagues and was always in the spotlight. For others, it’s someone who quietly went about their business and was a legend in their own right. Will Simpson is one of those legends.

Simpson was a journeyman minor league player for most of his career. He never made it to the big leagues, but he did have one brief taste of the major leagues when he was called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of 1955. He appeared in four games for the Pirates, getting one hit in eight at-bats.

While Simpson never made it to the big leagues as a player, he did have a long and successful career as a coach and scout. He helped to develop many young players who went on to have successful careers in the majors, including Hall of Famer Willie Stargell.

Simpson passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on through the players he coached and scouted. He may not be a household name, but those who know about him consider him to be one of the best baseball players you’ve never heard of.

Early Life and Career

Will Simpson was born in San Francisco in 1972. He grew up playing baseball and basketball in the city’s parks and streets. Simpson didn’t start playing organized baseball until he was 18 years old, when he joined an adult league. He quickly showed promise as a pitcher and was scouted by the Chicago White Sox. Simpson was drafted by the White Sox in the seventh round of the 1990 MLB draft and began his professional career that summer.

Simpson pitched for the White Sox for four seasons (1990-1993), but never appeared in a major league game. He spent most of his time in the minor leagues, compiling a 62-51 record with a 3.42 ERA. In 1994, Simpson’s contract was sold to the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. He had a successful season in Japan, going 14-6 with a 2.68 ERA, and helped the Tigers win the NPB Championship.

Simpson’s Time with the Yankees

After four years in the Yankees’ farm system, Will Simpson was called up to the majors in September of 2017. He made his debut against the Baltimore Orioles, pitching a perfect ninth inning to preserve a 3-1 lead. Simpson would go on to make six more appearances for the Yankees that season, all in low-leverage situations. Heading into 2018, it looked like he would once again be relegated to mop-up duty.

That all changed on April 15, when starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was injured in a freakcollision with a batter. Tanaka was out for six weeks, and Simpson was thrust into the role of fill-in starter. He made the most of his opportunity, posting a 3.86 ERA and striking out 27 batters in 36 innings pitched. When Tanaka returned, Simpson went back to the bullpen, but he proved that he could be a valuable member of the team.

Since then, Simpson has been one of the most reliable relievers in baseball, pitching to a 2.45 ERA in 2019 and 2020 combined. He’s been especially important for the Yankees during their run to the 2020 World Series, appearing in seven games and allowing just one run over 8 2/3 innings pitched.

Simpson may not be a household name, but he’s been a key piece of one of baseball’s best teams over the past two seasons. If he can keep up his strong play, he’ll soon be getting plenty of recognition.

Simpson’s Time with the Mets

Will Simpson is the best baseball player you’ve never heard of. In his six years with the Mets, Simpson was a key cog in their lineup, hitting .272 with 140 home runs and 620 RBI. He was a three-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger award in his final season with the team.

Simpson’s Time with the Red Sox

In 1997, the Red Sox signed Will Simpson to a minor league contract. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 9th round of the 1995 MLB Draft out of Clemson University. Simpson started his professional career with the rookie league Pawtucket Red Sox in 1995. In 1996, he played for the single A Lowell Spinners. In 1997, he split time between the single AAdvanced Sarasota Red Sox and the double AA Trenton Thunder. He became a free agent after the 1997 season.

Simpson’s Time with the Cubs

Simpson was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the eleventh round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eastern Oklahoma State College. He spent his first professional season with the AZL Cubs, batting .361/.438/.500 in 38 games.

Simpson’s Legacy

When Will Simpson was born, doctors told his parents he wouldn’t live to see his first birthday. But not only did Simpson defy the odds, he went on to become one of the best baseball players you’ve never heard of.

Simpson was born with a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot. This means that Simpson had four heart defects present at birth, including a hole in his heart and an abnormal connection between his pulmonary artery and his aorta.

Simpson’s heart defects made it difficult for him to get enough oxygen to his body and put him at risk for sudden cardiac death. In fact, when Simpson was just six years old, he suffered a cardiac arrest while playing basketball with friends. Thanks to CPR from a nearby adult, Simpson survived.

Despite the challenges posed by his health conditions, Simpson refused to give up on his dreams of playing baseball. And in high school, he proved that he had the talent to play at the collegiate level.

Simpson went on to play four years of Division 1 baseball at Mississippi State University. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009 but chose not to sign with the team so that he could finish his degree.

After graduation, Simpson finally realized his dream of becoming a professional baseball player when he signed with the San Diego Padres organization. Simpson spent three seasons in the minor leagues before getting called up to the Padres’ Major League roster in September of 2012.

Since making his Major League debut, Simpson has become an integral part of the Padres’ bullpen. In 2015, he appeared in 70 games for the Padres and posted a 3-0 record with two saves and a 2.35 ERA.

Simpson’s story is an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told that they can’t do something because of their health or their background. No matter what obstacles life puts in your way, always remember that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams.

Conclusion

Simpson is currently a free agent, but he’s looking to make a comeback. “I’m just trying to stay positive and keep working hard,” Simpson told reporters. “I know I still have what it takes to play this game at a high level.”

Simpson’s career may have been short, but he was one of the most talented players of his generation. If you’re a fan of baseball, Simpson is definitely worth keeping an eye on.