When Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer off Shae Simmons on Saturday, it was the first time anyone had done that to the Braves’ hard-throwing rookie in more than two years — and the first to do it in a pro game at any level.
Simmons had not allowed a home run in 108 appearances (121 innings) in pro ball, including 86 minor league games and 22 big-league appearances, until the Phillies’ veteran shortstop took him deep.
“That’s unheard of,” Braves reliever David Carpenter said of Simmons’ homerless streak. “Especially in the minor leagues, where you’ve got some of those parks that are so funky dimensional. That’s impressive.”
Simmons, 23, was asked Sunday if he remembered the last time he gave up a home run before the Rollins longball.
“My junior year of college,” said the former Southeast Missouri State pitcher. “I know one for sure – at New Mexico State with the wind blowing straight out, so that’s not my fault.” He smiled. “I would say two or three that year, probably.”
Simmons gave up two homers in 82 innings (15 starts) in his junior year at Southeast Missouri State, his third and final college season before the Braves selected him in the 22nd round of the 2012 draft. As a sophomore he had given up five homers in 31 innings while posting a 6.97 ERA.
He throws a little harder now – 95-98 mph fastballs – with more movement, but that’s not what permitted Simmons to keep the ball in the park for so long.
“Everything is the same, just better location,” he said. “(Saturday) night I just got enough of the plate, and Rollins was hot last night. He was pulling everything to right field. He didn’t have much trouble with the home run.”
The switch-hitting Rollins’ homer was also just the third hit by a left-hander in 38 at-bats against Simmons this season. Against lefties, he has an .079 opponents’ average and .182 OBP.
After posting a 0.96 ERA and and .172 opponents’ average in his first 20 major league appearances, allowing 11 hits and three runs (two earned runs) in that stretch, Simmons has been charged with three earned runs in two innings over his past three outings, including his first multi-run outing Saturday.
He raised the bar so high with his first 20 big-league appearances that it would be unrealistic to expect Simmons to continue pitching at that level. He knows that. Simmons has watched his teammate Craig Kimbrel, widely regarded as the game’s best closer, give up a run or two now and then.
“Oh yeah, people are going to run into balls,” Simmons said. “I understand all that. I understand that aspect of the game. It just sucks to see it, to have it happen (in 2-1 game). But that’s part of it.”
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