A number of particulars go into an outfielder’s potential to throw out a runner tagging up on a fly ball. These particulars start with getting an excellent learn on the ball off the bat, so the outfielder can settle into place beneath the fly ball because it drops from the sky. You’ll wish to get “behind the ball” because it comes down, so you may achieve some ahead momentum into the throw. You’ll additionally wish to have your throwing leg again and your glove leg in entrance on the catch, so you may transition into the throw shortly utilizing a “pro-step” and decrease any motion as a baserunner beneficial properties two steps for each wasted step by a fielder.
Or you possibly can simply have an absolute howitzer for an arm.
The latter is the method taken by Ronald Acuña Jr. on Friday evening, because the Atlanta Braves outfielder delivered what would possibly simply be one of the best throw you’ll ever see, no matter sport.
With the Braves holding a 3-0 lead over the visiting New York Yankees within the third inning final evening, the guests had been threatening. New York had runners on first and second with only one out, and Cody Bellinger was on the dish.
Bellinger labored the depend to 2-2, fouling off a number of powerful pitches from Spencer Strider, earlier than lifting a deep fly ball to proper subject off a slider down-and-in. Acuña settled beneath the fly ball on the warning observe close to the foul line, caught it over his shoulder, after which, with none motion in any respect, merely unleashed an absolute rocket into third base as New York’s Jorbit Vivas was tagging up from second:
Okay.
As somebody paid to explain sporting moments, I’m at a loss to explain this throw past saying THIS IS MIND-BLOWING. Acuña makes this throw with no crow-hop or a pro-step; he merely catches the ball over his shoulder, pivots, and throws a supersonic missile into third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. And a few credit score goes to Alvarez who offered the play on the finish, ready till the final doable second to get his glove out to snare this frozen rope from Acuña.
Leaving Vivas, and the remainder of us, completely surprised.
And let’s not overlook that this throw is available in from deep proper subject IN THE AIR. At one level, as this baseball model of a Concorde travels over second base, it appears as if the ball remains to be rising, earlier than dropping proper into Alvarez’s glove for the beautiful double play to finish the inning.
You possibly can watch baseball … heck, you may watch each sport conceivable, for the following ten years and never see a greater throw.
Oh and Acuña additionally went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.
Not a foul evening on the ballpark.
