Former Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was one of the best defensive infielders in the game for a long time. He made some of the most jaw-dropping plays that baseball fans could have imagined.
However, his offensive production wasn't much to write home about during his four years in Atlanta. Simmons accumulated a 15.6 bWAR over 499 games with a .256/.304/.3662 slash line which, again, speaks to just how much value he brought to the table with his glove. Simmons completed his time as a Brave with an OPS below .700, but it still hurt seeing him traded to the Angels.
Simmons provided his best offensive output once he was with the Angels. He suddenly started hitting well and earned a 19.9 bWAR over the five years he spent in Anaheim while slashing .281/.328/.394 with 36 homers, 238 RBI, 51 stolen bases, and a .722 OPS.
Injury and underperformance marred his last two seasons with the Angels. He then settled for one- year contracts with the Twins (2021) and the Cubs (2022), the next two seasons. The former Braves standout only played in 34 games during the 2022 season before he suddenly disappeared.
Andrelton Simmons looked like a generational defensive player until he disappeared
Now, Simmons did play in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and participated in a Braves alumni home run derby during the 2024 season. But outside of that, he didn't do anything baseball-related for a while. But he finally emerged from the shadows and is playing the sport he loves again. This time in the Mexican League.
The Athletic's Sam Blum recently caught up with Simmons before a game with his new team, Dorados de Chihuahua. There's no doubt that SImmons was one of the best defensive players ever to grace a baseball field. His 28 defensive WAR ranks 13th all-time, and his 201 defensive runs saved is the highest for a shortstop since the metric was created.
Unfortunately, baseball is often a humbling sport and hard to experience when things aren't going well. Simmons told Blum, “When you’re not, it’s a little stressful, you know? I needed a little break.” However, he stated later that he doesn't regret his decision to take a mental break. That break and a conversation with Jonathan Schoop led Simmons to his new stop in the Mexican League.
It appears Simmons is enjoying how there is still some level of competition, but with much less expectation and pressure. He began playing in this league in 2025 and hit pretty well with an .811 OPS in his first season. Simmons has a .746 OPS over 27 games so far in 2026.
This time in Mexico isn't an attempt to make a comeback in Major League Baseball. Simmons stated, “I know there are guys here that have that ambition. I’ve been there. I’m happy with my career in the big leagues. I’m not trying to get back.”
It seems Simmons is very much at peace with himself and his decision to play again at a lower level. The time away from the high-level of competition at the MLB level seems to have done him a lot of good. Simmons doesn't have any desire to coach when he inevitably retires, either. He's not far from that moment, at 36-years-old. Simba has provided baseball fans with some of the most memorable plays in the sport. He may not care much for the spotlight, but his impact will never be forgotten.
What if the Braves didn't have to rebuild? Simmons could have spent his prime in a Braves uniform. Simba was extremely beloved by Atlanta fans. It's hard to not think about what could have been.
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