Spring-Ford graduate Cam Simmons selected by Texas Rangers.
Former Spring-Ford standout weighing his options to forego senior season at Virginia
Professional baseball scouts only got a brief glimpse of University of Virginia outfielder Cam Simmons during his three seasons with the Cavaliers.
Yet that proved to be all the Texas Rangers organization would need.
The Rangers selected Simmons, a 2015 graduate of Spring-Ford High School, in the 15th round (449th overall) on Day Three of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a dream for me to be drafted,” said Simmons, who was forced to miss his entire junior season with Virginia after undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. “I’m not sure exactly how it’s gonna all shake out yet but I’m excited to be drafted right now and see what happens.”
According to the rules established by the MLB, a club retains the rights to sign a selected player until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on August 15, or until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college on a full-time basis. A player who is drafted and does not sign with the club that selected him may be drafted again at a future draft, so long as the player is eligible to be drafted.
That means if he so chooses, Simmons could return to Virginia for his senior season with the Cavaliers and vie for a higher spot in next year’s draft.
“It was tough sitting out this season with it being such a crucial year,” said Simmons of his junior season. “But my rehab is going really well, I should be back out on the field soon — wherever that may be next.”
Simmons lit it up his sophomore season on the way to being an All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection. That season, he started all but two games for the Cavaliers and finished second on the team and fourth in the ACC with a .352 batting average. For the year, he racked up 14 doubles, nine home runs, 57 RBI and 47 runs scored. He posted 27 multi-hit games, including a team-high 10 three-hit games.
After a slow start to his freshman season, he hit his strides in late April. By season’s end, he batted .261 with four home runs, 13 doubles, 29 runs scored and 21 RBI.
For his collegiate career, he boasts a .312 average with 14 home runs and 42 extra-base hits.
“Virginia has been a great place for me,” he said. “I’ve been successful, done a lot of good things. I’m definitely thankful.”
Simmons was the sixth University of Virginia player taken in this year’s draft. Left-handed pitcher Daniel Lynch was selected in the first round (34th overall) by the Kansas City Royals just before the Diamondbacks selected outfielder Jake McCarthy five picks later. The Chicago Cubs then took second baseman Andy Weber in the fifth round and right-handed pitcher Derek Casey in the ninth round before lefty Bennett Sousa was taken by the White Sox in the 10th round.
Simmons capped his time at Spring-Ford as the Pottstown Mercury’s All-Area Player of the Year in 2015. The outfielder finished the season with a .452 batting average with 22 RBI in leading the Rams to a Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship. He also spent time as a pitcher where he put together a 3-1 record with a 0.96 earned-run average.
Despite all of his accomplishments and achievements on the diamond, Simmons still looks back to home as his main driving force.
“My family has always supported me all along,” he said. “They’ve given me every opportunity to be successful, so I’m very thankful for my family.”