Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #16 Shortstop Kendall Simmons

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Kendall Simmons, image- Jay Floyd

An All-Star in 2019 with the short-season Class-A Williamsport Crosscutters, Kendall Simmons is one of the Phillies' most promising prospects.

Simmons, an outstanding and multi-positional infielder, was the Phillies' 6th round draft pick in 2018.

That year, he made his professional debut in the Rookie level Gulf Coast League, tallying a .234 average with three homers and 11 RBI in 32 games.

The right-handed batter posted a .234 batting average with 12 home runs, 34 RBI and five stolen bases in 51 games with Williamsport in 2019.

This off-season, Simmons played in the Australian Baseball League, making up for some of the time missed due to the cancelled 2020 season. In 21 games with Adelaide, he notched a .172 batting average with a home run, seven RBI and three steals.

Strength and athleticism are key traits that stand out for the Georgia native, Simmons.

At the plate, the ball jumps off his quick bat. He'll want to work on making better contact, as his strike out rate thus far as a pro hasn't been exemplary.

Primarily a shortstop, Simmons has also played second base and third base in the Phils system. It's unclear where he'll land in a more permanent fashion, but the versatility is certainly something that will be beneficial to the player and the organization down the road. He's got a strong enough arm to remain in the left side of the infield.

Simmons is one of the main names that has come up in discussions about under-the-radar Phillies prospects, but as he continues to make a name for himself, that type of status will no longer apply to this terrific talent.

The six-foot-two 180-pounder turns 21 years old in April.

An estimated time of arrival to the big leagues is still years away. Look for Simmons to play full-season A ball this year.

You can keep tabs on this year's Phillies prospects countdown by clicking on this link.

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