Sixty games into the season, the Tampa Bay Rays lead the MLB with 84 stolen bases.
Manager Kevin Cash is hard at work figuring out how to move his players around the diamond to keep manufacturing more runs. Currently in 14th place among all 30 clubs with 261 runs scored, the Rays are getting the most out of their roster by running, running, running. The non-pitchers—infielders, outfielders, and designated hitters—are making a collective effort on the base paths, all chipping in for the common good.
In second place as of Wednesday night, before hosting the Texas Rangers at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the Rays are 6.5 games behind their Eastern division rivals, the New York Yankees.
Thus far, Rays’ runners have been caught only 17 times when attempting to steal. This shows that Cash and his coaches are selective in deciding when to run and who gets the green light to do so. One of the ‘Go-Go’ Rays swiping bags is Junior Caminero. In 56 games, the Rays’ third baseman not only offers the option of keeping the ball in play and creating his running magic from base to base, but he also provides a punch with his bat. His 14 home runs lead the club’s offense, and four stolen bases keep opposing pitchers guessing if and when he makes a run for second or third base.
Caminero, with his powerful swing, not being caught stealing, and 11 walks, is a multi-dimensional offensive weapon Tampa Bay has come to rely on early in 2025. Another “small ball” star on the bases is right fielder Jose Caballero, with 48 games penciled into Cash’s lineup.
Since coming over from the Seattle Mariners after the 2023 season, Caballero has grown more confident in the length of the leads he’s taking on the bases, which is proving positive when stealing. Last season, Caballero swiped 44 bases. Thus far in 2025, Caballero has collected 16 walks and 19 stolen bases. As of Wednesday, Caballero is in fifth place on the MLB stolen base leader board, two behind the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong and Chicago White Sox Luis Robert Jr.—both with 21 steals.
Then there’s Chandler Simpson, the Rays’ “roadrunner” on the base paths. Quite possibly the most exciting man to put on a pair of spikes since Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, Simpson has already demonstrated that he can be the heir apparent. MLB’s all-time stolen base king, in his 1,406 swipes during a 25-year career, Henderson was caught only 335 times. The Hall of Famer finished his career with an .808 stolen base percentage. Since being called up from Triple-A Durham, North Carolina, on April 18, Chandler has had 19 steals in 22 attempts for an incredible .864 percentage.
Just how dangerous a base runner is Chandler? In his four seasons in the minors, starting in 2022 with rookie ball in the Florida Coast League, to being with the Durham Bulls this season before making his MLB debut, Chandler copped an astonishing 214 bases. He has been caught only 35 times. Add on the 107 walks earned, how could Tampa Bay not have given their star runner a shot at proving whether he has the goods to shine at the MLB level?
Now, with all the danger Chandler represents with his legs, once reaching first, second, or third base, his game does have an Achilles’ heel.
His defense needs work. Even Chandler’s exceptional speed couldn’t make up for his defensive liabilities during his call-up. Optioned back to Durham on May 30, he is working on improving his glove skills with roving fielding coaches. To his credit, in the 35 games that Cash used Chandler as the club’s center fielder, the top prospect didn’t commit a single error. His .285 batting average demonstrates that Chandler is an all-around offensive threat to opposing pitchers. Once he gets his glove work more complete, the Rays will have an awesome runner to call on.
The Rays are built to attack opponents by using their speed on the bases, hitting doubles, stretching singles and doubles to triples, and collecting walks. But the 62 home runs hit so far pale in comparison to the 100 smacked by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Occasionally, Tampa Bay will win with the long ball. But, they are counting on hits, steals, and good starting pitching to keep them on the heels of the Yankees.
The ‘Go-Go’ attitude of this season’s Rays is reminiscent of the 1959 American League pennant-winning Chicago White Sox.
That season saw the White Sox return to the World Series after a 40-year hiatus, in a matchup with the Dodgers. Although they dropped the Series to the Dodgers, not since the club’s 1919 Black Sox Scandal had Chicago had a winner in the American League. The 1959 club had four future Hall of Famers leading that season, with manager Al Lopez, infielders Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox, and pitcher Early Wynn. That White Sox squad won mainly due to the aggressiveness exhibited on the bases.
A collective 113 stolen bases by the club, Aparicio alone had 56 swipes. Center fielder Jim Landis stole 20 bases. Throw in 580 walks, and it must have seemed to opposing pitchers that every inning there was a White Sox on base to keep their eyes on. The “Let’s Go, Go-Go White Sox” fight song was a hit with Midwesterners in 1959 and remains popular with today’s fan base.
Winning, however possible, with all hands on deck, Tampa Bay is always open to options. Using their team speed is always on the table because it shows no signs of failing them.
