Andrelton Simmons
A defensive wizard at shortstop whose breathtaking plays redefined what was possible with a glove in modern baseball.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Curaçaoan baseball player·Birthday: September 4·Millennials
Biography
Andrelton Simmons didn't just play shortstop; he authored a masterclass in defensive artistry. Born in Curaçao, where he initially focused on pitching, he converted to shortstop in junior college and brought a pitcher's arm and a physicist's intuition to the position. From his 2012 debut with the Atlanta Braves, he turned the infield dirt into a stage, making the spectacular look routine with his impossible range, balletic grace, and throws that seemed to defy physics. While his offensive output was variable, his glove was a constant game-changer, saving more runs by defensive metrics than any player of his era. His influence was quiet but profound, forcing a reevaluation of how much a single defender could impact a game and inspiring a generation of young players to prioritize the often-unglamorous craft of defense with the same fervor as hitting home runs.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andrelton was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrelton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Andrelton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his defensive excellence at shortstop (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018).
- Received the Platinum Glove Award, given to the best overall defender in each league, in 2013 and 2014.
- Holds the single-season record for most Defensive Runs Saved by a shortstop, with 41 in 2017.
- Led all Major League shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved multiple times throughout the 2010s.
Did You Know?
He was originally a pitcher in college at Western Oklahoma State and was clocked throwing 97 mph from the mound.
He played for the Dutch national team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
He is known for using an unusually long, 35.5-inch baseball bat.
“Every ground ball is a problem to be solved with my glove.”
