Georgia Tech Professional Athletes

Georgia Tech Alumni Report: MLB, Aug. 23–29

Chandler Simpson is making a strong argument to be the hottest bat in the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup — and maybe one of the more quietly productive hitters in the American League right now.

The Georgia Tech alum rattled off multi-hit games in four of his last five appearances this week, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk Sunday against Baltimore, adding two hits Monday against Detroit with an RBI, and then delivering two-hit performances in back-to-back games against San Diego to close the week. He finished the stretch batting .311, up from .308 mid-week as the hits kept coming.

The Baltimore game was particularly emblematic of what Simpson brings. With Nick Martinez dealing — six innings, four strikeouts — Simpson chipped in two hits and an RBI in a 3-1 Rays victory, the kind of complementary offensive performance that turns a quality start into a win. He didn't generate gaudy power numbers across the week, but his ability to make consistent contact and work walks (he drew one Tuesday against Detroit in a hitless game) signals the approach of a hitter who understands how to string together an at-bat.

For a Rays team that has long prided itself on player development and manufacturing runs, Simpson fits the mold. A .311 average over a sustained stretch is no small thing for a left fielder on a roster built around versatility.

---

Around the Horn

While Simpson was the week's clear headliner, two other Yellow Jackets made appearances worth noting.

Xzavion Curry had a busy week navigating the Mets' bullpen carousel. He was optioned to Triple-A earlier in the period to make room for Chris Devenski, then recalled again as New York continued to shuffle its roster — the team's own description called it "another roster move in a season full of them." When he did appear Thursday against Milwaukee, Curry worked 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and two earned runs, holding his ERA at 3.44. That's a respectable number for a reliever bouncing between the majors and the minors, and the Mets' willingness to keep calling him back suggests they see real value in the arm.

Jose Alvarado made two appearances for Philadelphia, pitching a scoreless inning Tuesday against Seattle while striking out two, then working another frame Saturday against the Angels in a Phillies loss. His ERA sits at 5.81 on the season — a number that reflects some turbulence for a reliever who, when right, can be one of the more electric arms in the National League. The strikeouts Tuesday were a reminder of that upside.

---

The week belonged to Simpson, full stop. Four multi-hit games in a five-game window, a .311 average, and a supporting role in a Tampa Bay win — it's the kind of stretch that should have Yellow Jacket fans paying close attention to the AL East standings the rest of the way.

Two Yellow Jackets, One New Home

The trade deadline had barely closed when Georgia Tech alumni Joey Bart and Brenton Doyle suited up together in White Sox pinstripes, giving the South Side a sudden Atlanta pipeline and GT fans a compelling reason to tune in to a rebuilding club.

Bart was the headliner of the move. Chicago acquired the catcher from the Braves in a late deadline deal, making it his second team change during the 2026 season. The former No. 2 overall pick has had a circuitous path to relevance, but the White Sox — sitting at 59-52 at the time of his debut — are clearly betting on upside. Bart and Doyle both made their White Sox debuts on August 5 in Boston, when Davis Martin took the mound to open the Red Sox series, per Yahoo Sports.

Bart's numbers out of the gate were modest — he carried a .214–.220 batting average across the series — but the context matters more than the slash line right now. He drew a walk in Tuesday's game and has been working into a lineup that desperately needed catching depth after the Braves moved him, presumably clearing the path for Sean Murphy's return to Atlanta. The White Sox aren't a postseason lock, but they're in the mix, and Bart gets a legitimate shot at meaningful at-bats down the stretch.

Simpson Quietly Surging in Tampa

While the Bart trade dominated headlines, Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson had himself a week that deserves more attention.

Simpson went 3-for-something on August 2 against the White Sox, then strung together multi-hit games on back-to-back days against the Rockies — going 2-for-x with 2 RBI and a run scored on Tuesday, and adding another hit on Wednesday. By Saturday, his average sat at .296, making him one of the more quietly productive Yellow Jackets in the league this week. In a Rays lineup that's been churning through roster pieces all season, Simpson has been a steady presence.

Curry Finds a Groove

Mets reliever Xzavion Curry also turned in a strong week on the mound. He logged 2.0 innings against the Guardians on Thursday, allowing just one earned run, then followed that with a sharp 3.0-inning outing against the Pirates on Saturday, striking out four. His ERA dropped to 2.81 on the week — a number that speaks to the kind of late-inning reliability New York has been leaning on as it pushes through a crowded NL Wild Card race.

Alvarado Struggles

Not every GT alum had a banner week. Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado was touched for 2 earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning Saturday against the Blue Jays, bumping his ERA to 5.77. He'd been cleaner in his two earlier appearances this week — a pair of 1.0-inning, 1-strikeout outings against Washington — but Saturday was a reminder of the volatility that has defined his season.

---

The bigger story, though, is what's happening in Chicago. Two Georgia Tech products sharing a clubhouse, chasing a playoff run. That's the kind of alumni overlap that doesn't happen often, and for GT fans, the White Sox just became a lot more watchable.