Michael Harris II. Nasim Nuñez. Kyren Paris. Chandler Simpson.
What do all of these players have in common? Two things: They all rank in the top 100 for baserunning sprint speed and are former Breakthrough Series participants.
It’s no accident that these players were all part of the MLB Develops pipeline, where they first honed their speed and skills and created their path to the big leagues.
The Breakthrough Series, which is currently taking place at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., features dozens of young, elite high-school athletes hoping to emulate the likes of Harris and Simpson.
Consider, for example, Ace Sapp, an outfielder in the class of 2027. He looks up to pros like Harris and Simpson, who are paving the way for the next generation of big leaguers and have made their way through MLB’s developmental pipeline.
“Chandler Simpson’s story inspires me,” Sapp said. “He plays the game to get on base and put pressure on the defense.”
The young outfielder from Las Vegas understands how much of a difference-maker a speedy runner on base can be, especially as the competition level increases yearly.
“If you put pressure on the defense, then they’re more likely to make an error. Put the ball in play and just get on base,” Sapp said.
This mindset of speed and baserunning effectiveness doesn’t just help the physical aspects of the game. It can even boost players' mental outlook as they go through a season and possibly psych out their future opponents.
“I think it helps my confidence because word gets around when you run a really fast time,” said Mikey Watson, an infielder in the class of 2027 known for his fast set of wheels. “They know I'm stealing, I know I'm stealing, so it makes it fun.
“If I can put my speed on, no matter where I hit the ball, I can put pressure on the defense,” Watson added. “Just making people make plays and giving my team a better chance to win.”
Like at all other MLB Develops events, the Breakthrough Series coaching roster is stacked with former professional players who all know what it takes to succeed at the highest level and maintain that success.
Denard Span, who stole 185 bases throughout his 11-year playing career, is a regular instructor at the Breakthrough Series.
“Speed is very important to the game of baseball,” Span said. “When you have guys who can steal bases … it just changes the entire dynamic of a ball club, and it brings energy and excitement to a team, as well as to a fanbase.”
For evidence, look no further than the spark Simpson gave the Rays fanbase when he was called up in April. He went on to steal 19 bases in a 35-game span with Tampa Bay before being optioned recently to Triple-A Durham. He continues to be an example-setter for today’s Develops athletes.
“If I'm a young player and I’m here at the Breakthrough Series, I’m looking at those guys that are that big league level,” Span said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of these guys, and there's a wealth of experience and knowledge here at this complex.”
This experience and knowledge are the tools that players like Simpson used to hone their talent and skills en route to debuting for a Major League team.
“We understand … how to do the little things right in order to stay at the big league level for many years,” Span said. “Everybody thrives on hitting the home runs and doing the big things, but it's the small details that are going to keep you in the big leagues, keep you in pro ball for a long time.”
Wherever they’re playing -- from the fields of the Jackie Robinson Training Complex to big league ballparks across the country, the Breakthrough Series and similar MLB Develops events will continue producing Major League talent with Major League speed.