Yandy Díaz and Chandler Simpson are closing in on a rare piece of Tampa Bay Rays history as the club pushes through the final weeks of the regular season.
Both hitters are batting above .300 entering the final stretch, putting the Rays on pace to have two qualified .300 hitters in the same season for only the third time in franchise history.
Díaz has been the more productive offensive force, hitting .306 with 165 hits, 21 home runs, 76 RBIs and an .845 OPS through 136 games. Simpson, meanwhile, is batting .311 with 155 hits and 38 stolen bases in 133 games.
The possibility was highlighted by MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, who noted the historical significance of the Rays potentially producing another pair of .300 qualifiers.
The only previous Rays teams to accomplish the feat did so in 2007 and 2009. Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton reached the mark together in 2007, while Crawford and Jason Bartlett did it again two years later.
Simpson has provided a particularly intriguing complement to Díaz. The rookie outfielder has reached base consistently while creating pressure with his speed, collecting 38 steals despite being caught 14 times.
Díaz brings a different profile, combining his high batting average with significant run production in the middle of Tampa Bay’s lineup.
Their production has also come while the Rays have positioned themselves as one of the American League’s top teams. Tampa Bay entered Saturday with an 84-57 record and a four-game advantage over the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
With roughly three weeks remaining, both hitters have enough time to preserve their .300-plus averages and join an exclusive group in franchise history.
For Tampa Bay, the milestone would provide another reflection of the lineup’s consistency. For Díaz and Simpson, finishing above .300 together would put their names alongside some of the most notable hitters in Rays history.
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