Hayden Simpson
| IP | 161 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 6.429 |
| WHIP | 1.82 |
| BB/9 | 4.975 |
| SO/9 | 6.708 |
- Full name Hayden Colby Simpson
- Born 05/20/1989 in Magnolia, AR
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Southern Arkansas
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Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2010 (signed for $1,060,000).
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Southern Arkansas coach Allen Gum found the most successful pitcher in school history literally right next door. Simpson, his next-door neighbor in Magnolia, Ark., has gone 35-2, 2.39 with 323 strikeouts in 271 innings in three seasons with the NCAA Division II Muleriders. Though he's just 6 feet and 175 pounds, he has a strong lower half and a quick arm that delivers 91-93 mph fastballs that peak at 96. His fastball is fairly straight and he tends to pitch up in the zone, which could lead to difficulty with tougher competition. He has a pair of hard breaking pitches, an 82-83 mph slider and an 78-80 mph curve. He also has a changeup that he uses sparingly, and he commands his entire repertoire well. His velocity decreased a little toward the end of the season, and some scouts are wary of his size and the fact that he's never ventured far from Magnolia. Nevertheless, his fastball could get him drafted as high as the fourth or fifth round.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Cubs shocked the industry when they made Simpson the 16th overall pick in the 2010 draft, and they have yet to see much return on their $1.06 million investment. He went 35-2, 2.39 in three seasons at Southern Arkansas, and Chicago fell in love with him after seeing him throw 94-97 mph and show three solid or better secondary pitches in an NCAA Division II playoff game. But Simpson didn't pitch professionally in 2010 after coming down with a bad case of mononucleosis that cost him 25 pounds on an already skinny frame, and he hadn't fully regained his strength by the start of spring training. He struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced while touching 90 mph in his first pro game, then never looked that good again during a 1-10, 6.27 debut season. He never complained of soreness, but his fastball resided in the low 80s for most of the year. A postseason MRI revealed he pitched through a stress reaction and a small tear in his elbow, both of which healed on their own. When healthy, Simpson had a pair of hard breaking balls in his curveball and slider, as well as a promising changeup and solid command. The Cubs thought they were drafting a budding Roy Oswalt, but at this point they're just hoping he'll be completely healthy for the 2012 season. They'll determine where to send him after evaluating him in spring training. -
Chicago pulled the first huge surprise of the 2010 draft when it selected Simpson with the 16th overall pick. Considered as a fourth- to sixth-round talent by most clubs, he ranked second in NCAA Division II in wins (13) and strikeouts (131) last spring and went 35-2, 2.39 in three college seasons. A bad case of mononucleosis prevented him from pitching during the summer or instructional league, after he signed for a below-slot $1.06 million. Simpson uses a quick arm and a strong lower half to throw a low-90s fastball, and the Cubs saw him work at 94-97 in a Division II playoff game. They project him as a No. 2 or 3 starter with four average or better pitches, including a knee-buckling curveball, hard slider and effective changeup, not to mention plus control and command. Other teams don't rate his stuff quite as highly and think he'll have to add life to his fastball and work lower in the strike zone. They also wonder if he has the size to hold up as a starter, though Chicago thinks his athleticism will help in that regard. Simpson lost 15 pounds before heading to the Cubs' Arizona complex in November to regain strength. If he performs well in spring training, he could make his pro debut at high Class A Daytona.
