FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Macon, Ga., class of 2018 infielder and right-handed pitcher Kendall Simmons arrived at the 2014 Perfect Game National Underclass Showcase-Main Event at the JetBlue Player Development Complex a year ago, the most impressive item on his resume was an appearance at the PG WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla., two months earlier as a member of the East Cobb Astros.
Having “East Cobb Astros” next to your names carries a lot of weight in the world of national travel ball but that association in and by itself can take a prospect only so far. And, in fact, there wasn’t much else on Simmons’ resume that jumped out at an uninitiated observer other than an all-tournament citation at the 2014 14u PG BCS Finals when he was playing with the Titans Sports Academy.
In his own mind at least, when Simmons showed up at last year’s National Underclass-Main Event he was first and foremost a basketball player. He enjoyed showing off his considerable wares on the hardcourt at Tattnall Square Academy in his hometown of Macon, while still trying to fit in on the baseball field, a place older brothers Austin and Blake Simmons had found their niche.
A year later, Kendall Simmons is back at JetBlue as one of a record-breaking 590 prospects from all across the country in attendance at the 2015 PG National Underclass Showcase-Main Event. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Simmons still plays basketball at Tattnall Square Academy but has most certainly come to realize where he most belongs.
“I was a basketball guy until (this event) last year,” Simmons said on Monday after a very impressive morning workout session at JetBlue. “That was when I first got ranked and I thought then that baseball was my sport.” So long pick-and-roll. Hello hit-and-run.
At last year’s Main Event, the then-14-year-old Simmons threw 87 mph across the infield, delivered an 87 mph fastball and ran a 7.12-second 60-yard dash. He earned a 9.5 PG Grade (10.0 is the highest) and was selected to the Top Prospect List as one of 10 class of 2018 prospects so named. The final scouting report submitted from the event read:
“Simmons is only a freshman but he has present tools across the board, including a strong throwing arm from both the infield and the mound and very good right-handed bat speed. He’ll be a fun player to watch develop over the next few years.”
An updated version of the class of 2018 national rankings was released on March 5, 2015, and Simmons was slotted at No. 4 nationally. He remained ranked in the top-6 through early September.
“When I first saw it I was shocked; I was like, ‘Oh my,’” Simmons said of his first national ranking. “But after that I knew I had to keep on working because I still have three more years (of high school baseball) left. I still have a lot of work to do.”
Since those early rankings, Simmons, a Georgia Tech commit, has slipped to No. 15, certainly not a number a prospect should run away and hide from (he is the No. 2 overall prospect in the talent-rich state of Georgia).
On Monday morning, the now 15-year-old Simmons reasserted himself by throwing an event-best 93 mph across the infield (1 mph off the event record) and ran a personal best 7.05-second 60-yard dash with an impressive 1.59-second 10-yard split time; he did not pitch Monday.
“It feels amazing being down here; this is what you live for, really,” Simmons said shortly after his infield workout concluded. “During the offseason you train and train for this event right here. I’m playing basketball but I still train for this event. This is the most important one – it’s big, it’s huge, it’s fun.
“It’s real important for me to be here,” he continued. “Say there is a guy that is younger than you and he looks up to you, so you need to push this event on him, too.”
Simmons is here over these three days with his mother Felicia Simmons, who watched two older sons progress through the East Cobb Baseball organization. Her oldest son Austin went on to play junior college baseball and son Blake is a senior shortstop/outfielder at Tattnall Square Academy who has played in 15 PG events but is still uncommitted to a school.
“It’s been fun to see them all go through the process,” Felicia said Monday. “With (Kendall) being the baby, of course, his goal has always been to be better than his brothers so he has competed at very early age with them on the baseball field.”
At this point in his development, Simmons feels like his work defensively in the infield and his arm strength are what stands out the most about his game, although his ability to swing the bat has not been lost on anyone. It was at last year’s National Under-Main Event – that turning point of all turning points – where PG scouts saw him pitch for the first time; that 86 mph fastball also didn’t escape anyone’s attention.
“I like to pitch but I just started doing it last year; I’m still learning how to pitch,” he said Monday.
Simmons still has at least two more summers and falls to work with Guerry Baldwin and the other coaches with the East Cobb Astros, which – if history serves as any kind of reliable guide – will only make him better. “It’s been a blessing, and without (Baldwin) I wouldn’t be the person that I am today,” he said. “Oh my, he’s helped (with the development of my game). He pushes me every day.”
Felicia Simmons understands what kind of commitment it takes for a young player to reach the next level while riding the baseball elevator and then, when that level is reached, what it takes to move to the one after that.
Her youngest son is only 15-years-old and has already made a college choice but Felicia, a nursing administrator who was at JetBlue Monday without her engineer husband and Kendall’s father, Michael, knows he has a long way to go in his baseball career.
“He’s still got a lot to learn … and I think just being around other players and supporting his teammates who have not committed is important. He has a good work ethic so I think this a good opportunity for him,” she said. “Number-one, he loves baseball; that is his first love. He likes to showcase his talent, he loves to compete with other people, and so we allow ourselves to let him pursue his dreams and share that opportunity with him because being down here is awesome.
“You get to see people from all over the country competing and the camaraderie among the players – he just loves the game.”
Simmons readily agreed with his mom had to say: “I like seeing all these other guys competing here and trying to improve their rankings,” he said. “During the games, it’s amazing how we compete out there. Some people might not know each other at first but you can build a relationship with them.”
It was at last year’s PG National Underclass Showcase-Main Event where Kendall Simmons decided to make baseball his top athletic pursuit while also deciding not to let go of his own version of “hoops dreams.” Felicia Simmons couldn’t be any prouder.
“Finally, it seems, baseball is his first fulltime, year-around sport,” she said. “But he still enjoys basketball and he’s still out there running around on the basketball court; it’s fun to watch him play.”