Andrelton Simmons

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #4 prospect in 2012
  Western Oklahoma State JC head coach Kurt Russell discovered Simmons in Curacao, and several clubs were interested in him as a pitcher after seeing his fastball hit 98 mph in his lone juco season. Atlanta granted his wish to play shortstop, and he responded by winning the Carolina League batting title (.311) in 2011. Managers rated him as the circuit's top defensive shortstop, best infield arm and most exciting player. Simmons is a premier defender with a cannon for an arm and soft, quick hands. He covers lots of real estate with his quickness, ability to charge the ball and feel for the position. He committed careless errors by trying to make every play early in 2011 but improved in that regard. An aggressive hitter, Simmons knows the strike zone but doesn't walk much. He has bat speed and can turn on fastballs, but he won't have more than gap power. An average runner, he needs to improve his reads and jumps after getting thrown out 18 times in 44 steal attempts. Simmons will open 2012 in Double-A Mississippi, and more than few observers believe he already can play defense at a major league level. Tyler Pastornicky may get the first crack at the Braves' shortstop job, but Simmons is their shortstop of the future.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #15 prospect in 2011
  Simmons turned down several small offers from pro teams when he was 16 and growing up in Curacao, and it appeared his days on the diamond were numbered until Western Oklahoma State JC head coach Kurt Russell saw him during a Caribbean scouting trip. As a 20-year-old freshman in 2010, Simmons generated immediate scouting buzz despite missing a month with a broken toe. In 38 games, he hit a team-high .472 with seven homers, 40 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, and he also pitched 20 innings to help the Pioneers to third place in the Division II Junior College World Series. The best defensive player available in the 2010 draft, Simmons went in the second round and signed for $522,000. He has athletic actions, excellent range, soft and quick hands and an incredible feel for the position. His best tool is his arm, which has delivered fastballs clocked as high as 98 mph. While the Braves considered putting him on the mound, he wants to play shortstop and they fell in love with his defense after watching him in his pro debut. The question mark is Simmons' bat. He has some pop and is able to drive the ball, but his swing is long and he'll have to work on his approach to succeed against more advanced pitching. He runs well and has good instincts on the basepaths. Simmons will remain an everyday player for the time being. Given his age and experience, he could open 2011 with Atlanta's new high Class A Lynchburg affililate.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2012
  After Simmons won the high Class A Carolina League batting title (.311) in his first full pro season in 2011, the Braves put him on the fast track. He almost won Atlanta's shortstop job in spring training and claimed it in June after just 44 games in Double-A. He played well in the majors, with his only setback a broken finger on an errant slide that cost him two months on the disabled list. During his brief stay in Mississippi, Simmons lived up to his reputation as one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors. He has terrific range and soft hands, and his arm rates close to an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, making plays deep in the hole look routine. "The ball comes out of his hand with ease and just explodes with carry," a National League scout said. "It's something to see." Simmons may never win another batting title, but he won't have to. He makes consistent contact with a short swing and is developing some pull-side power. An above-average runner underway, he became a more efficient baserunner this season.
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  Ranked Carolina League #4 prospect in 2011
  Machado may have been the best prospect in the Carolina League, but the most exciting shortstop was Simmons. His fastball was clocked as high as 98 mph while pitching in junior college, but he wants to play every day and shows just about everything scouts want in a shortstop. Simmons has a tick above-average range, extremely quick hands and one of the better arms in the minors. He possesses excellent hand-eye coordination, which he demonstrated by leading the league in batting (.311) and plate appearances per strikeout (13.3). He has well below-average power but beats out some doubles with average speed and aggressive baserunning. "He could go to the big leagues and play defense right now," Salazar said. "And he doesn't miss the fastball."
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  Ranked National League #12 prospect in 2010
  A native of Curacao who was touted as the best defensive shortstop in the 2010 draft, Simmons also drew interest as a pitcher after flashing a 95 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider at Western Oklahoma State JC. Managers regarded him as the best shortstop in the Appy League after he showed three strong tools and proved to be the toughest batter in the league to strike out (once every 19.2 plate appearances). Simmons slows the game down on defense, reading the ball well off the bat and always playing the right hop. He ranges well to both sides and has the arm strength to make throws from the hole. He made just nine errors in 62 games and led Appy shortstops in every conceivable category. Though not a burner, Simmons has average speed and is a heady player who finished second in the league with 18 stolen bases. He tracks the ball very well at the plate and improved each month, culminating in a .286/.369/.362 batting line in August. He's skinny and does not project as a power threat. "He's not a fast guy, but he makes every play," said Danville batting coach Carlos Mendez, who compared Simmons to current Braves shortstop Alex Gonzalez. "I don't think he'll hit a lot of home runs, but he'll get stronger and hit a lot of line drives."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #92 prospect in 2012

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background:: Western Oklahoma State JC head coach Kurt Russell discovered Simmons in Curacao, and several clubs were interested in him as a pitcher after seeing his fastball hit 98 mph in his lone juco season. Atlanta granted his wish to play shortstop, however, and he responded by winning the Carolina League batting title (.311) in 2011. Managers there rated him as the circuit's top defensive shortstop, best infield arm and most exciting player. Scouting Report: Simmons is a premier defender with a cannon for an arm and soft, quick hands. He covers lots of real estate with his quickness, ability to charge the ball and feel for the position. He committed careless errors by trying to make every play early in 2011 but improved in that regard. An aggressive hitter, Simmons knows the strike zone but doesn't walk much. He has bat speed and can turn on fastballs, but he won't have more than gap power. An average runner, he needs to improve his reads and jumps after getting thrown out 18 times in 44 basestealing attempts. The Future: Simmons will open 2012 in Double-A Mississippi, and more than few observers believe he already can play defense at a major league level. Tyler Pastornicky may get the first crack at the Braves' shortstop job, but Simmons is their shortstop of the future.