Andrelton Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andrelton Simmons |
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Simmons with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017
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| Dorados de Chihuahua | |||
| Shortstop | |||
| Born: September 4, 1989 Willemstad, Curaçao |
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| debut | |||
| June 2, 2012, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) |
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| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 70 | ||
| Runs batted in | 444 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Andrelton Alexander Simmons (born September 4, 1989) is a professional baseball player from Curaçao. He is known for being an amazing shortstop, a position in baseball. He currently plays for the Dorados de Chihuahua in the Mexican League.
Simmons has played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These include the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs. He is famous for his incredible defense. He has won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, which are given to the best defensive players. He also won a special award called the Wilson MLB Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award. Many experts consider him one of the best defensive shortstops ever.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Andrelton Simmons grew up in Willemstad, Curaçao. When he was young, he played baseball with other future MLB stars like Kenley Jansen and Didi Gregorius. Besides baseball, he also enjoyed playing basketball and soccer.
Because he was not very big, many professional baseball scouts did not notice him at first. This changed when he went to Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma. In his first year there, Simmons was a fantastic hitter. He had a .472 batting average, hit seven home runs, and had 40 runs batted in (RBIs). He helped his college team reach the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II College World Series.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves picked Simmons in the second round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. This was after his great performance at Western Oklahoma State College.
Before the 2012 season, experts thought Simmons was one of the Braves' top young players. He was even ranked among the top 100 prospects in all of baseball. On May 30, 2012, the Braves called him up to the big leagues. He played his first MLB game on June 2. Just one day later, he got his first hit, which was a double.
Simmons quickly showed how good he was. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month for June 2012. He hit very well and also showed off his amazing defense. However, in July 2012, he broke a bone in his right hand while sliding. This injury meant he had to miss some games.
In 2013, Simmons played his first full season. He played in 157 games and showed incredible defensive skills. He won the Gold Glove, the Fielding Bible Award, and the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award for his outstanding defense that year. These awards proved he was one of the best defensive players in baseball.
In 2014, the Braves signed Simmons to a big seven-year contract. He continued to win awards for his defense, earning another Gold Glove and Fielding Bible award.
Playing for the Los Angeles Angels
On November 12, 2015, Simmons was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2016, he unfortunately tore a ligament in his left thumb. He was able to return to play later that season. He continued to be a great defensive player, winning his fourth straight Fielding Bible Award.
In 2017, Simmons had a great year both defensively and offensively. He hit 14 home runs and had 69 RBIs. He also had one of the lowest strikeout rates in all of baseball. He finished 8th in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player award. He also won his third Gold Glove Award that year.
Simmons continued his strong play in 2018. He hit for a high batting average and had a career-high 75 RBIs. For the second year in a row, he had the lowest strikeout rate in MLB. He also won another Gold Glove award. In 2019, he had an ankle injury. In September 2020, he decided to stop playing for the rest of the 2020 season.
Time with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs
In 2021, Simmons signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. He played a full season but his hitting numbers were lower than in previous years.
In 2022, he signed with the Chicago Cubs. He played in 34 games for the Cubs. After this, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
A New Chapter: Mumbai and Mexico
In October 2023, Simmons was chosen in the first draft of a new league called Baseball United by the Mumbai Cobras.
On December 26, 2023, Simmons announced that he was retiring from professional baseball. However, he soon decided to play again! In January 2024, he was named to the Curaçao Suns team. This team represented Curaçao in the 2024 Caribbean Series in Miami.
Then, on January 12, 2025, Simmons officially came out of retirement. He signed a contract with the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League, where he plays now.
Representing His Country
Andrelton Simmons has proudly played for the Netherlands national baseball team several times. He played in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. These are big international tournaments where countries compete in baseball.
See also
In Spanish: Andrelton Simmons para niños
