Chandler Simpson #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida on Feb. 19, 2026. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
Prior to being called up by the Tampa Bay Rays in April of the 2025 season, while logging games with the club’s Triple-A affiliate, Durham Bulls, Chandler tripled in a game against the Charlotte Knights. His race from home plate to third base was clocked at 10.97 seconds.
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.
