From Walk-On to Player of the Year, Simons Has Stayed the Course

Nothing was guaranteed for Jakob Simons. Joining CSUN as a walk-on in 2021, Simons would have to earn playing time with his style play at the plate and in the outfield.

Through some setbacks and a multitude of base hits and diving catches, Simons received a reward for his hard work in May with the Big West Field Player of the Year award.

"Winning Player of the Year is pretty awesome because it makes me look at my whole journey through college and my baseball career," said Simons. "Especially, with last year, I call it a bad year, but with the jumps I made, and all of the people that helped me out, I feel really proud."

JAKE SIMONS GOES DEEP!

14th Homer of the season gives the Matadors the lead #CSUN 2, CSUB 0 | T4 pic.twitter.com/nsJ1RqG4DC
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) May 27, 2023

This past season was a magical one for Simons. He belted 14 home runs, just one shy of The Big West lead, and hit a robust .356. In addition, he was a catalyst in scoring runs, totaling 51 runs scored and 11 stolen bases.

His defense also impressed in center field. While diving catches may not be an official NCAA statistic, Simons may have been among the nation's leaders in said category, often dazzling fans with his near impossible catches.

A Pleasanton native, Simons' 'all out' mentality perhaps originated as a football player with his hometown Foothill High School. On the gridiron, he was a linebacker and running back where he earned all-league honors.

"I loved the physicality of it," said Simons. "I wasn't the biggest dude, but I played as hard as I could and had success just because I tried hard. In my exit meeting last year [at CSUN], the coaches told me that I played baseball too much like a football player. I guess that's just how I am."

The 5-foot-9 Simons also starred on his high school baseball team, collecting a host of awards including All-State and All-North Coast Section. But his relentless play on the field did not translate into college offers.

"I didn't have any offers to play at a four-year school so junior college was my only option," said Simons. "I had buddies that played Division I baseball. No one was going to just give it to me. I was going to have to earn it."

Simons continued his baseball career at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. He would hit over .300 as a freshman, garnering all-conference accolades. However, much like any student-athlete that competed in 2020, his JUCO baseball career would be greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played just 21 games in a shortened 2020 season before not playing altogether in 2021 when that season was canceled.

With his JUCO career abruptly ending, Simons' future in college baseball was uncertain. Along with his lack of games played, the recruitment process during the pandemic prohibited any face-to-face contact with recruiters.

However, through a connection between Chabot's head coach Will Tavis and CSUN's then recruiting coordinator Eddie Cornejo, Simons would get an opportunity to prove himself.

"I had to send in video because they couldn't come out and watch me play," said Simons. "Eddie called me around April, and he told me they had a roster spot. He was the only guy that gave me a shot."

"Coach Tavis is well-respected and believes in discipline, so naturally I gravitated to him," said Cornejo. "We knew shortly after Jake's commitment to CSUN, under the agreement that he would earn everything and be promised nothing, he was going to make an immediate impact here."

It would not take long before Simons made an impression on CSUN's coaching staff. In his opening practice, Simons attempted to make a diving catch on a fly ball, resulting in a broken collarbone. The injury forced him to miss the entire fall season. But while out of action, he still managed to make a lasting impression.

"When he broke his collarbone, he showed up to practice the next day after surgery ready to ride a bike," said Cornejo. "Jake never once complained, stopped working or pointed the finger at anyone for anything that didn't go his way at CSUN."

Then head coach Dave Serrano echoes those sediments.

"The way Jake handled the injury told me everything I needed to know about him," said Serrano. "His work ethic was what jumped out to me and the coaching staff. He had attention to detail and was very disciplined in everything he did."

While unable to practice, Simons tried to make the most of his opportunity to be with the team. From dressing in uniform, working on his rehab or eventually running laps around the baseball field, he wanted to be a part of the team.

After working his way back onto the field, Simons made his Matador debut early in the 2022 season where he collected a triple in his first at bat.

Simons would earn a starting center field position and settle in as a leadoff hitter. In a season filled with highs and lows, Simons was a key contributor on a 32-win team, but to him, his production was lacking.

Simons leaned on summer baseball to get further experience and prepare for the 2023 season, but an errant pitch in a game broke a bone in his hand. The injury forced him to the sidelines for six weeks.

However, like before, the injury was just a minor setback.

"I didn't get to swing a bat most of the summer, but I came back the day that I was cleared," said Simons. "I had a walk-off double in that game so that was cool."

Simons wound up hitting .357 for the San Luis Obispo Blues, helping the team make a playoff run. His offensive exploits were just a sample of what was to come.

After a strong fall season back with CSUN, Simons came out of the gate fast with hits in 14 of his first 16 games in 2023. While his hot hitting may not have come as a surprise, his home run production surely did.

With five home runs over the first five weeks of the season, Simons had eclipsed his entire collegiate homer tally up to that point. During a stretch, Simons had a home run in five consecutive series including a grand slam at Long Beach State. He also went deep at eventual Big West champion UC San Diego in a series victory.

SImons Says, Happy Mothers Day.@jakepsimons @beckysimons4 pic.twitter.com/4NBCUaYZHS
— Baron Zemo (@GhizalHasan) May 15, 2023

Simons wound up improving his batting average a whopping 129 points from the previous year. When identifying the reason for his offensive outburst, Simons chalked it up to staying the course.

"I think it's the years of building discipline to make sure I do all of my work and do more of what's asked of me," said Simons. "Building that discipline carries itself to other things in baseball and in life."

Simons helped CSUN to a 34-win season – the program's most in 21 seasons – as the Matadors finished just one game back of a postseason berth.

"His success was not a surprise to me from afar this past season," added Serrano. "When you combine talent with work ethic, discipline and attention to detail along with character that's off the charts, Jake performed exactly how he expected himself to perform."

Adding to his accomplishments on the field was his success in the classroom. A consistent academic performer, Simons held one of the top grade point averages on the team.

"I was the guy that suggested team study hall last year," said Simons with a smile. "I always try to get things done the best that I can. That's just how I was raised."

Simons received his bachelor's degree in Communication Studies this past May, capping an exceptional all-around year at CSUN.

"He deserved every bit of success he achieved this year and our program got better because of him," said Cornejo. "But more importantly than baseball, Jakob represented the Simons family name with the utmost dignity and respect with how he treated his teammates and the game of baseball."

Simons' immediate future is uncertain again but in a different way.

With one year of collegiate eligibility left, Simons intends to return to CSUN in 2024. But in July, he could very well hear his name called at the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft – a situation he didn't think possible prior to this season.

"I thought that was kind of out of the picture," said Simons. "Every baseball player wants to play professional baseball. It would be awesome if I got that opportunity."

Whether Simons is belting home runs at Matador Field or chasing down flyballs at the professional ranks next season, one can be assured he'll be giving it his all.

"I've been sticking to the same thing for years," said Simons. "You never know when all of your work will pay off."

#GoMatadors

From Walk-On to Player of the Year, Simons Has Stayed the Course

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Jakob Simons

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