TORONTO, ON - MAY 23: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws from the seat of his pants to get the baserunner at first base as he falls after fielding a grounder in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on May 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Looking back on the ten best scoops, snags, and hoses across MLB from this past week in a segment called Weekly WebGems.
As you could probably already tell from the title, CttP has put together the ten best defensive plays that took place in MLB this past week (05/20/19 – 05/26/19) in a segment we like to call Weekly WebGems.
Scroll through the countdown to be amazed by some of the most magnificent defensive plays your eyes have ever witnessed.
With 100 home runs and 346 RBI in his career as a part-time player, Matt Adams is known for being a guy who mashes — but not much else. If he were to have ever have played for an American League team in his eight seasons in the bigs, he would have been used as a designated hitter. The ailing Washington Nationals, however, don’t have such a luxury in the senior circuit.
Nats fans have already had it bad enough this season watching their team’s drastic downfall, which is encapsulated by their Big City’s biiiiig throwing error as he attempts to get the ball to second base only for it to make its way to centerfield after nearly nailing New York Mets baserunner Amed Rosario.
As if the Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t benefitted from Cody Bellinger’s bat this season, but he’s also making phenomenal catches too?! Belli’s height is undoubtedly advantageous as he makes this grab near the top of the right field wall at the beautiful PNC Park; most outfielders would have to back away from the wall and play the ball off of it, but that’s because most outfielders aren’t 6’4″ with Bellinger’s hops. The play is even more impressive given that Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder earlier this month, which is why he’s been in the outfield instead of first base in the first place.
The Kansas City Royals must be wondering why they didn’t call up Nicky Lopez sooner. The 24-year old has made a great impression since making his major league debut on May 14th, hitting .293 in 41 at-bats while demonstrating above-average ability to make contact and remarkable plate discipline.
The Royals’ #8 prospect on MLB Pipeline has also established a capability of playing big league-caliber defense, exhibiting a plethora of skills in making this putout. He turned on the jets getting to this grounder up the middle and rears back enough to retire the runner at first on an easy one-hopper while his momentum pushed him to left field. I’ll go out on a limb and say this won’t be the first time Lopez will make the highlight reel.
Another week, another great play in the field by Vladito. The Toronto Blue Jays continued to state that Guerrero Jr. had been kept in the minors because he needed to work on his defense at third base, but all the kid has done is make dazzling plays at the hot corner since getting called up.
Vladito got caught up fielding Rafael Devers‘ sliced grounder and (comfortably) lands on the ground, but sticks it out and regains enough composure to fire the ball to first and retire the runner at first on a hop. It’ll only go up from here for the AL Player of the Week of two weeks’ past.
Marwin Gonzalez hasn’t seen too much success at the plate with this season, but his new team has certainly got what they paid for in the field. The superutility player has already made multiple starts at four different positions for the Twins in his first 43 games with the team, and plays such as this one demonstrates his value as a defensive sleuth who can play all over the diamond even as his bat has yet to heat up.
Besides, the Twins already own the best record in the MLB due to their immense offensive production. A squad who leads all of baseball in runs, home runs, total bases, runs batted in, and slugging can afford to keep fielding a veteran who can effectively field a bunch of positions.
While pessimistic fans will attribute this play to luck, there is no denying it is impressive nonetheless. After the ball took flight off of first baseman Ronald Guzman‘s foot, Rougned Odor comes to the rescue as he charges in from his spot at second base and cleanly fields the redirect before firing it to the bag to retire the speedy runner.
This play wouldn’t have been made possible if it weren’t for pitcher Adrian Sampson exhibiting textbook PFP sprinting in from the mound to get to first base in time to receive the throw from Odor. Truly a team effort.
MLB WebGem #5: Chicago White Sox’ infield
Speaking of a true team effort, the Chicago White Sox completed the 1st triple play of 2019 this week at Minute Maid Park in 5-4-3 fashion. With Houston Astros at first and second, Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada corrals a hard-hit grounder and proceeds to throw it around the horn to get it to the other two bags before the runners do.
Both Moncada and second baseman Yolmer Sanchez were efficient in recording the outs at their respective bases before Jose Abreu capped it off with a good stretch to record the third out. The White Sox couldn’t have turned it any quicker, especially considering Jake Marisnick is the Astros’ speediest baserunner and was unable to beat out the throw to first.
Rookie Alex Verdugo’s first career assist from center field was a bullet. The liner off of Kevin Kiermaier‘s bat traveled fast off of the Tropicana Field turf, causing Verdugo to overrun it and curl back to handle it off of the wall.
However, the 23-year old fielded it with composure short of the warning track and delivered a laser beam just off of the third base bag to rob the fleet-footed Kiermaier of a triple. Verdugo’s throw was on target to where shortstop Corey Seager was standing, allowing him to make a quick tag on Kiermaier’s leg as he slid into third head-first.
Tim Locastro has had three stints with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season appearing in eight total games. With everyday left fielder David Peralta landing on the injured list, Locastro will surely have the opportunity to build on the 12 putouts he’s made — probably none, however, will be as difficult as the one he made on Saturday at Oracle Park.
He covered 73 feet of ground tracking down this Pablo Sandoval drive down the left field line, making a lunging grab before sliding into the wall with force. Most people in the stadium would have had trouble seeing whether Locastro made the catch, but the outfielder confirmed it as he raised his arm above the red cloud of dirt, clutching the pearl to signify the out.
Several things happened for this play to crack the top 2 on the week. Asdrubal Cabrera‘s nice diving grab then getting onto one knee quickly to fire the ball. Second baseman Logan Forsythe getting off of the base in pressing fashion before delivering a strike to first base.
Two good efforts. But it was Ronald Guzman’s insane stretch that makes this play stand out. I mean how often do you see a ballplayer do the splits, let alone a 6’5″ ballplayer?!
Watching this highlight made me grimace in pain empathizing for Guzman.
Hamilton's speed pays off beyond the basepaths! #AlwaysRoyal
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) May 25, 2019
MLB WebGem of the Week: Billy Hamilton, Kansas City Royals
It wouldn’t be a surprise to many to find out that speedster Billy Hamilton gets crowned for WebGem of the Week. New York Yankee Clint Frazier crushed this Jake Junis offering to deep right center, obliterated to the degree that it would result in a home run in most parks and at least a hit just about every other time.
In order to get to Frazier’s knock, Hamilton had to use his legs to the best of their ability, covering a whole lot of ground and sacrificing his body as he lunged out to make the catch up against the unforgiving Kauffman Stadium wall. Surely in pain after the collision, Hamilton runs it off as the crowd erupts in applause. Other than Byron Buxton and maybe Jackie Bradley Jr.,
Next. Brandon Woodruff ruins good Phillies weekend. dark
Hamilton is the only guy in the league who is capable of making this grab, a truly incredible defensive feat.
