The Tampa Bay Rays endured a difficult World Series. There's no question about it. They were able to win one game — a Game 4 victory — but the Milwaukee Brewers ultimately clinched a Fall Classic championship in five games. While Rays fans surely aren't in the best mood following Wednesday's loss, they can be hopeful for the future with Chandler Simpson on the roster.

Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Drews Rasmussen are the best players on the team, but Simpson established himself as a star during the MLB postseason. 2026 represented his first full season in the big leagues, and he hit .306 while stealing 46 bases during the regular season. Simpson continued to find success in the postseason, hitting .311 while recording five steals, three doubles and one triple.

Simpson played especially well in the World Series. Defensively, Simpson made a number of tremendous catches. Offensively, he had eight hits which led to a .400 batting average across the five games played. He added three RBI and two stolen bases.

The Rays don't always receive the most attention during the regular season. Simpson's play was impossible to ignore in October, however.

In today's modern era of baseball, many teams rely on the home run. The three true outcomes — home runs, strikeouts and walks — are often accepted as normal (and sometimes even encouraged). Simpson doesn't play that way, though. He puts the ball in play on a consistent basis, records hits, hasn't had a home run in his big league career, steals no shortage of bases and pays quality defense in left field.

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Simpson's play style is refreshing in today's game. He's reminded the MLB world that you can be a batting average and stolen base guy and make a legitimate impact. You don't have to be a boom-or-bust home run hitter to perform well.

The Rays understandably won't be pleased with the way the World Series turned out, but Chandler Simpson has become a star.