Bio

Kevin Simmons is in his fourth year as a professional and his first with Gateway in 2018.

Simmons last pitched in 2016 with the Joliet Slammers. He appeared in 36 games (all out of the bullpen) with a 1-2 record and a 4.91 ERA, striking out 36 and walking 28 over 44 innings.

A product of Mississippi Valley State (one year) and Wallace State Community College (one year), Simmons was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He pitched two years in the D-Backs' system — 2014 with Rookie-Advanced Missoula (2-3, 3.61) and 2015 with Low-A Hillsboro (1-2, 4.45). 

Simmons will hope to recapture the form of his first professional season, when he posted a career-low 1.06 WHIP and a career-best 43 strikeouts against 11 walks. He struggled with allowing home runs that season, conceding nine big flies in 47 innings. In the two following years, he allowed only three combined home runs — but walked significantly more batters.