Former Stafford Standout Makes Pro Baseball All-Star Game

STAFFORD, CT — The past 13 weeks have been a whirlwind for former Stafford High School baseball star Josh Simpson, culminating in a prized honor he will experience Wednesday.

On May 16, Simpson pitched his final career game at Columbia University, capping off an Ivy League career in which he won 10 games, despite missing his entire junior season with an injury.

Next up was the Major league Baseball draft on June 5, during which the 6-foot-2, 190 lb. left-hander was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 32nd round. Assigned to the Marlins' rookie league team in the Gulf Coast League, he hurled one scoreless inning before being promoted to the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A short season New York-Penn League.

Simpson has been nothing short of impressive in his first dozen relief appearances with Batavia. He earned his first professional victory at Williamsport on Aug. 7, and has converted both save opportunities he has been presented. In 14 2/3 innings, he has allowed just nine hits and two walks while striking out 19 batters, and he sports a nifty 1.84 earned run average.

On Wednesday, just two days after celebrating his 22nd birthday, Simpson will be found on Staten Island in New York, playing in the annual league all-star game. He is one of seven Muckdogs on the Blue Team roster.

Activities begin at 3 p.m., including team autograph sessions, a Home Run Derby competition between the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York, and the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Among the honorees this year is longtime New York Yankees great Bernie Williams.

Game time at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George is slated for 7 p.m. More all-star game information may be found here.