Shae Simmons didn’t make a splash when he started his professional career. Players selected in the 22nd round of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft are usually mere ripples.
That is no longer the case.
The Braves took Simmons, the right-handed pitcher out of Southeast Missouri State, with the 689th overall pick of the 2012 draft. He waited until the third day of the draft before his phone rang. Just two years later he is just the second member of the team’s draft class to make it to the major leagues. He joins pitcher Alex Wood, the Braves’ second-round pick (No. 85 overall), to reach the pinnacle. So much for the draft being an exact science.
Simmons was called up from Double-A Mississippi on Saturday. He has appeared in three games and in two innings of work has allowed no runs, two hits and one walk while striking out three. He recorded a save in his second appearance, preserving a 4-2 victory against the Marlins on Sunday. Simmons struck out both batters he faced in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s loss to the Mariners as he got Mike Zunino swinging and Cole Gillespie looking.
“It gives a lot of other guys in the organization hope,” Simmons said of his rapid rise. “Maybe they haven’t had successful years in the past and they’re picking it up and starting to figure some things out. Maybe they think that since I got here so short, just from playing the game that I know how to play, maybe they’ll do the same thing.”
The Braves were off Thursday, the first day of the 2014 amateur draft. They are scheduled to play 17 consecutive days as they begin a seven-game trip Friday against the Diamondbacks and Rockies.
Simmons has appeared in three of the Braves’ four games since having his contract purchased. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has a simple philosophy when it comes to the promotion of young players.
“Obviously you bring someone up because there is a need,” Gonzalez said. “Why make them wait four or five days. Let’s go. … Why make him wait around. I’m a believer to get him in there so he stops thinking. Heck, we gave him a hitter before we gave him an opportunity for a save.”
The 5-foot-11 Simmons features a mid-90s fastball and a slider. He said he can mix in a split-finger fastball if need be.
Gonzalez said as long as Simmons continues to put up zeroes there will be a place for him in the bullpen. Don’t look for Simmons much more in the ninth inning. The Braves have that covered with Craig Kimbrel. But if the closer works three days in a row again, as he had when Simmons got the ball in the final inning in Miami, there is precedent to call on the hard-throwing 23-year old.
Simmons spent time with the Braves in spring training and had a chance to play catch with Kimbrel. He said he is looking forward to picking the brain of another not-so-tall-in-stature success story. Simmons said scouts would often ask if he might grow. He pointed to his father, Bill Simmons, who stands 6 feet.
“It doesn’t matter your height really, I guess, if you’re getting on top of the ball, it’ll look the same especially when you have the type of stuff that Craig has,” Simmons said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 7-foot tall or you’re 5-5, it’s going to be hard to hit regardless.”
At Double-A Mississippi, Simmons converted all 14 of his save opportunities. He had a 0.78 ERA in 23 innings over 20 appearances. He allowed two earned runs, 15 hits and six walks while striking out 30. At the time he was called up, Simmons led the Southern League and was tied for third in all the minor leagues with his 14 saves.
“It’s the same game it’s just different names on the back of the jersey that are household names so it’s a little intimidating,” Simmons said. “If they didn’t think I should be here, then I wouldn’t have any confidence in myself either. So now that I know they think I could be out there in tight situations it helps me to come through.”
