John Simms mixing pitches well, keeping ball down to find Arizona success

Right-hander John Simms has impressed in his first month in the Arizona Fall League.

Simms came into his first game after the starter and a reliever had completed four innings. Salt River trailed 4-3 when he arrived, but the game was tied 5-5 when he departed. He earned the win after pitching three innings and allowing just one run in a 9-7 Rafters comeback victory.

After that initial appearance, Simms (3-0) has been tremendously consistent, starting four straight games, tossing 18 innings and surrendering only four earned runs. The Rice University product has a 1.71 ERA.

"He is keeping the ball down consistently," said Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart. Simms isn't overpowering with an 88 to 92 mph fastball, but he does have the ability to "spin his curveball very well."

"His changeup is coming along," Menhart added.

Simms continues to get stronger and go deeper into games. His first outing was three innings. His next two outings were four innings apiece. Rarely in Arizona will you have too many starters go five innings because there are so many outstanding pitchers available and each organization wants to see its guys perform.

The 6-foot-3, 205 lb., Simms has gone five innings in back-to-back starts. The only runs he gave up in those two starts were solo homers. He allowed only seven other hits, struck out seven and walked one.

The 23-year-old Simms was solid this season as well. In 23 games (22 starts) between high Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, he finished with a 3.30 ERA, 82 strikeouts and 40 walks over 133 2/3 innings. The Nationals have had been high on Simms' ability for five years, drafting him the first time in 2010. He signed after the Nationals selected him in the 11th round in 2013.

With this outstanding showing in the AFL, Simms has set himself up for a big 2016 campaign, as the Nationals have shown in the past they will pluck guys from Double-A if they believe they are ready to get guys out at the major league level.

* Glendale beat Salt River 11-7 Thursday night with Abel Del Los Santos (0-2) tagged with the loss. The Rafters (13-11) are three games back of Scottsdale in the East Division.