Doug Simons

Douglas Eugene Simons

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• School Oxnard College, Pepperdine University
• High School Calabasas High School
• Debut April 9, 1991
• Final Game September 24, 1992
• Born September 15, 1966 in Bakersfield, CA USA

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Biography

1987-1989: Last college seasons, early pro career

Doug Simons played collegiately at Pepperdine University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science/Teachers Education. The Los Angeles Dodgers took him in the 45th round of the 1987 amateur draft but he did not sign. In his last college season (1988), he was 11-3 with a 2.42 ERA and 11 complete games. The Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 9th round of the 1988 amateur draft. Assigned to the Visalia Oaks, he was 6-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 1988 and struck out 123 in 107 innings, debuting at high class A. In 1989, Simons did even better in Visalia, going 6-2 with a 1.49 ERA. That earned him a promotion to the Orlando Twins, where his line was 7-3, 3.81.

1990: Fine work in AA

In 1990, the 23-year-old southpaw was a key arm on an Orlando club that had the best record in the Southern League. He went 15-13 with a 2.54 ERA, leading the SL in wins and finishing fourth in ERA, one spot behind teammate Denny Neagle. Brian Barnes edged him for the SL All-Star LHP spot.

1991-1992: The majors

That winter, he was picked by the New York Mets in the 1990 Rule V Draft and was 2-3 with 1 save but a 5.19 ERA for the 1991 Mets; his secondary statistics were reputable, though. Before the 1992 season, he was traded to the Montréal Expos for Rob Katzaroff. He was rocked with the Expos, posting a 23.62 ERA and allowing 15 hits in 5 1/3 innings; he would not pitch in the majors again. He did a very good job in his first AAA season, though. He was 11-4 with a 3.08 ERA for the Indianapolis Indians and was 7th in the American Association in ERA. He was tied for sixth in wins, but only one behind the five-way tie for the top spot. He walked 25 in 150 innings.

1993-1997: Fading away

Simons struggled for the 1993 Ottawa Lynx, going 7-7 with a 4.75 ERA, though he walked just 16 in 116 innings, showing even sharper control. The 27-year-old past-his-prime pitcher moved to the Kansas City Royals system in 1994, going 5-8, 4.58 for the Omaha Royals. In 1995, he dropped to the Mobile BaySharks, where he was 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA in the independent Texas-Louisiana League. He allowed 55 hits in 49 innings but only walked three batters! In 1996, Simons signed with the Houston Astros and 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA for the Tucson Toros but 8-7 with a 3.48 ERA for the Jackson Generals. The control pitcher finished 7th in the Texas League in ERA, second on the team behind John Halama. Jackson would win the league title. Doug finished his playing career with the Rimini Pirates in Serie A1 in 1997.

1998-present: Post-playing career

As his playing career ended, he moved back into the Mets organization as a minor league pitching coach from 1998-2001, with the Pittsfield Mets in 1998-1999 and Capital City Bombers in 2001. He then joined the Texas Rangers organization as a scout. He is now (as of 2006) the head baseball coach at Covenant College outside of Chattanooga, TN.

Sources

Include 1989-1997 Baseball Almanacs