John Simms
| IP | 631 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.78 |
| WHIP | 1.254 |
| BB/9 | 2.653 |
| SO/9 | 7.174 |
- Full name John Dunn Simms
- Born 01/17/1992 in The Woodlands, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Rice
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Drafted in the 11th round (346th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2013 (signed for $100,000).
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Simms beat crosstown rival Jameson Taillon (the No. 2 overall pick in 2010) as both a junior and senior in suburban Houston high school matchups, and his seven-figure asking price was the only reason he lasted 39 rounds in the 2010 draft. He looked on track to be a 2013 first-rounder after starring in the Cape Cod League following his freshman season, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has gone backward since then. Simms will open games at 90-93 mph with his lively fastball, but it quickly dips to 87-89 mph. His slider can be a solid pitch when he stays on top of it, though he gets around it too often. He also mixes in a curveball and splitter, though both rate as below-average. Neither his pitches nor his command is anything special, and scouts aren't confident they'll be able to sign him away from his senior season at Rice.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Simms split time between the rotation and the bullpen in a strong career at Rice, but his stuff went backward even as he carved up college hitters. Viewed as a potential first-round candidate after his strong freshman summer in the Cape Cod League, Simms eventually signed for $100,000 as an 11th-round pick after his junior year in 2013. He jumped to Double-A Harrisburg by the end of his first full pro season in 2014, though he tired down the stretch. Simms' best asset is his good command of his average fastball, which ranges from 88-92 mph with some sink and deception. He spots his fastball and his curveball to both sides of the plate, and the Nationals think the curve has a chance to be above-average, because it is an out pitch when he has his best feel for it. His changeup remains below-average but is improving and could wind up as a fringy pitch. Simms holds runners and fields his position well, and he is a fierce competitor. He profiles as back-end starter or a middle reliever, and his stuff has played up in the bullpen in the past. He'll likely return to Harrisburg to start 2015 but could reach Triple-A Syracuse by midseason.
Draft Prospects
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Simms beat crosstown rival Jameson Taillon (the No. 2 overall pick in 2010) as both a junior and senior in suburban Houston high school matchups, and his seven-figure asking price was the only reason he lasted 39 rounds in the 2010 draft. He looked on track to be a 2013 first-rounder after starring in the Cape Cod League following his freshman season, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has gone backward since then. Simms will open games at 90-93 mph with his lively fastball, but it quickly dips to 87-89 mph. His slider can be a solid pitch when he stays on top of it, though he gets around it too often. He also mixes in a curveball and splitter, though both rate as below-average. Neither his pitches nor his command is anything special, and scouts aren't confident they'll be able to sign him away from his senior season at Rice.
