An Atlanta Brave for the first four years of his career, Andrelton Simmons arrived in the Anaheim organization via a high-profile November 2015 trade, a transaction designed to give the Angels the most specialized defensive anchor in the sport. Already a human highlight reel in the National League, Simmons brought a foundational level of run prevention to the shortstop position that redefined the team’s defensive floor.
After a solid 2016, Simmons had a defensive season for the ages. That summer, he demonstrated a specialized ability to turn impossible plays into routine outs, leading the American League with a staggering 5.2 defensive bWAR. He combined that glove work with the best offensive year of his career, recording 164 hits and a career-best .278 average. This excellence earned him an eighth-place finish in the MVP voting and his first of two consecutive Gold Gloves in an Angels uniform.
Between 2017 and 2018, he secured back-to-back Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards, proving to be a localized vacuum on the left side of the infield. His 12.1 defensive bWAR over just five seasons reflected a surgical impact that few players in franchise history have ever matched, essentially serving as a second "ace" for the pitching staff through his range alone.
Simmons’ career slowed during the shortened 2020 season due to ankle injuries, and he left Orange County for Minnesota as a free agent. With the Angels, Simmons had 592 hits, two Gold Gloves, and a 12.1 dWAR.
Comments powered by CComment