Drafted in the 6th round (177th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2013 (signed for $400,000).
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Simpson caught everyone's attention on the first day of the 2012 Area Code Games, blasting a towering home run over the center-field wall 400 feet from the plate at Long Beach State's notoriously tough Blair Field. He has lived up to his billing with some of the best raw power in the 2013 draft, which along with his signability could push him into the top five rounds. The rest of his game remains in question. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder can barrel balls despite a hitch in his righthanded stroke, but he also can swing and miss pitches by a wide margin. Simpson will have to hit because he's likely to move from behind the plate. He has the arm strength to catch, but his receiving ability is well below-average and he's just too big for the position. His lack of speed makes first base his only realistic option. A Houston recruit, Simpson would be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2015.
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Draft Prospects
Simpson caught everyone's attention on the first day of the 2012 Area Code Games, blasting a towering home run over the center-field wall 400 feet from the plate at Long Beach State's notoriously tough Blair Field. He has lived up to his billing with some of the best raw power in the 2013 draft, which along with his signability could push him into the top five rounds. The rest of his game remains in question. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder can barrel balls despite a hitch in his righthanded stroke, but he also can swing and miss pitches by a wide margin. Simpson will have to hit because he's likely to move from behind the plate. He has the arm strength to catch, but his receiving ability is well below-average and he's just too big for the position. His lack of speed makes first base his only realistic option. A Houston recruit, Simpson would be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2015.
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