James Simmons (minors05)

Donald James Simmons

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 205 lb.
• School University of California, Riverside
• High School Norco High School

• Born September 29, 1986 in Yorba Linda, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher James Simmons was 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA as a freshman and 9-5 with a 2.96 ERA as a sophomore, finishing 8th in the Big West Conference in ERA. In summer ball, he was 4-2 with a 1.18 ERA for the Cotuit Kettleers with only 5 walks and 34 hits allowed in 53 innings. He was third in the Cape Cod League in ERA. Baseball America rated him the 8th best prospect in the Cod League. James improved to 11-3, 2.40 as a junior and was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America and third team by Collegiate Baseball.

Simmons was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2007 amateur draft, 26th overall. He was signed by scout Craig Weissmann and he debuted in AA, unusual for a newly signed player of that era. On July 8, he threw two hitless against the Arkansas Travelers in his pro debut. Through his first five games, he has allowed four hits and one run in 10 innings.

Sources: UC Riverside Baseball, 2007 Baseball Almanac, MILB.com