Gerrit Simpson
| IP | 542 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.218 |
| WHIP | 1.373 |
| BB/9 | 3.122 |
| SO/9 | 6.858 |
- Full name Gerrit Lee Simpson
- Born 12/18/1979 in Tulsa, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Texas
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Drafted in the 5th round (154th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2001.
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The Reds drafted Simpson after each of his two years at Connors State (Okla.) JC but weren't able to sign him. He'll move up considerably from his 33rd-round status of 2000, as he transferred to Texas and became the ace of the rotation. Simpson likes to pitch at 91-93 mph and can touch 97, but he's better when he uses a less stressful delivery and operates at 89-91. His slider is an effective second pitch, and at times he shows a decent changeup.
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The Reds drafted Simpson twice out of Connors State (Okla.) Junior College but couldn't sign him either time. Their loss was the Rockies' gain after he spent a year at Texas. Because he worked 122 innings for the Longhorns, Colorado monitored his pro debut closely. He initially worked in relief and then pitched 12 innings over three starts before being shut down for the summer. Simpson has a mid-90s fastball but is better off throwing in the low 90s with a less stressful delivery. He can pinpoint the pitch within the strike zone, making his late-breaking slider even more effective. Simpson returned for instructional league, where he made progress with his changeup. He's penciled in for low Class A this year.
