Zach Simons – An Introduction
Greetings Motor City fans, from the Arizona Fall League home of the Mesa Solar Sox. First off, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Zach Simons and I have been blessed with the opportunity of being the official blogger for the Detroit Tigers here at the Arizona Fall League. Throughout the next two months, I look forward to answering your questions and giving you game-to-game updates on Tigers prospects who are playing here. Before I tell you a little about myself, I would like to let you know who else will be representing the Tigers in the AFL. Beside me, the Tigers have selected three pitchers — Casey Fien, Rudy Darrow, and Louis Marte, along with three hitters — Jeff Larish, Casper Wells, and Will Rhymes.
My Journey to the AFL:
I was born and raised in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, a small farming community in Southern Idaho. In a town that small, I guess the only thing you can live and breathe for is sports. With a population of 1,600 and only one blinking stoplight, it is the definition of “small town America”. It is a prominent football town well known for producing state championship football teams. Heck, baseball wouldn’t have even become a sport there in 1995 if it wasn’t for one man, my high school coach, Dennis Uhl. As a three sport athlete in high school, I was fortunate enough to be drafted in the 38th round by the Oakland A’s. I decided to hold off on my dream of professional baseball to attend Everett Community College in Washington. After playing two years at EVCC, everything I worked for became a reality when I was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2005 Draft. As a 19-year-old kid, I was excited to start my career at the professional level and begin the ultimate journey and “dream” of playing in the big leagues. Now in my fourth pro season, I can say my career truly has been rollar coaster ride. On April 30, 2008, I was traded to the Detroit Tigers for RHP Jason Grilli. Leaving all the friends I had made with the Rockies, I was sent to Lakeland, Fla., the high-A affiliate of the Tigers. There, I was primarily used as a setup man and was fortunate enough to put together a fine season. With a week left in the schedule, I found out that I was going to represent the Tigers in the AFL. You can say that I was a little PUMPED!
Now, on Oct. 1, I find myself walking into a clubhouse that will house the future stars of five different teams. Row after row of jerseys, you begin to see some of the finest prospects in Minor League Baseball and even some that have already played in the “bigs”. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to grasp the feeling I had when I first got there. It definitely is something I will cherish until the day I die. Well, I guess I better cut this off now. It’s time to lace up the spikes and get ready for practice. AFL Opening Day is Oct. 7. GO TIGERS!!!
Reliever Zach “Swig” Simons
Tigers in the AFL 
hey zach this is cody crawshaw and erick gutierrez, and we’re playing under Big D now this is our senior year, and we thought it would be cool to drop in and say “hi” because Mr. Uhl showed us this site and we’re looking forward to hearing back from you. So good luck and have fun.
peace
cody and erick
How’s it going guys? Hope you are excited for the up-coming season. Thank you for writing me on here. It’s always nice to hear from the hometown.
Dear Zach,
My wife and I are going to be in phoenix on sat. the 25th and we are coming to the game. If possible I would like to get all of the tiger star propects autograph’s. We are also going to the Future Game. Who from Mesa is going to play in the game. Let me know. We are looking forward to meeting you guys and seeing you play.
Bill & Kim K.
Bill & Kim, Thank you for writing in. When you get into town feel free to come introduce yourself and will see what we can do as far as the autographs. The rosters have yet to come out for the Rising Stars game but I will keep you updated. Look forward to seeing you at the park. Zach Simons
Zach,
I just wanted to let you know how refreshing it is to hear a professional athlete be so grateful and excited about the opportunity before him…..very cool!
You have a very unique opportunity before you that many people, self included, could only dream of! Represent yourself and the Tigers organization well.
It will be fun to track your progress, not only through the AFL, but also through the Tiger’s farm system.
Good luck to you brother,
Jeremy
Dear Zach,
Thanks for responding to our e-mail. We too are looking forward to meeting you and the rest of the team. I see that you guys are 2-3. Is it just getting used to playing together or maybe being tired after the summer season? Anything small from Michigan that I can get for you?
Bill & Kim
Swig
First off…Congrats on a great year in Lakeland. I have had season tickets down there for a few years now and have enjoyed watching youngsters like yourself continue to develope into great MLB talent. I believe you were one of our farm systems greatest kept secrets this past season. Perhaps everyone was just so glad to see Grilli go that they failed to pay attentionto how much we had just gained. I was glad to see that the brass saw what many of us in the stands observed and was happy to hear of your AFL invite.
Not sure if you ever read FoxSports Tigers page but you and Skelton have made a name for yourself over there. You were both in several articles and Blogs this past season.
Best of luck to you and remember have fun, you are a great pitcher but even more important a great teamate from what I heard around TigerTown.
JAY-RC
P.S. Keep Lil’ Rhymes and Larish in check over there. The three of you are about to be well known very soon. See ya in TigerTown in the Spring!
Zach,
We made it to Sedona over the week end and are having a good time. Did they announce the lineup for the futures games on Friday Night? Let us know. I know that you will be part of it. See you Friday night.
Bill & Kim