How Bader's defense got him the nickname 'El Cangrejo'

PHILADELPHIA -- This is Harrison Bader's normal.

A fly ball is hit to right-center field in a game at Chase Field on Sept. 19. Bader has a bead on it, like he always does. He heads to the spot where he knows the ball is going to be. His starting point and the ball’s landing spot are 73 feet away, according to Statcast. But, for the final 20 feet or so, Bader turns his body and backpedals until he is underneath it.

He makes an easy catch.

Bader has caught baseballs like this since he was 12 years old.

“I don’t know what the normal way is,” he said recently. “I think how I do it is the normal way.”

Outfielders will backpedal on occasion to catch a fly ball, but not like Bader. Not all the time. Phillies first base coach Paco Figueroa is the team’s outfield coach. Shortly after the Phillies acquired Bader in a trade with Minnesota in late July, he nicknamed him “El Cangrejo.”

It means “crab.”

“The whole crabwalk thing,” Bader said, referring to his new nickname. “It’s funny.”

“El Cangrejo” has bolstered the Phillies’ World Series chances since his arrival. He has hit .305 with five home runs, 16 RBIs and an .824 OPS in 50 games with the Phillies, providing a much-needed right-handed-bat.

But Bader has been truly special in the outfield. He is a Gold Glove-caliber defender who plays with flair.

“It’s like he’s stalking his prey out there,” left fielder Brandon Marsh said.

Bader learned at a young age that he belonged in the outfield, mostly because he learned at a young age that he hated the infield.

“I couldn’t field a ground ball,” he said. “So, my dad taught me how to play the outfield. He told me to keep my belt buckle at the base I plan on throwing to. From an athletic standpoint, when you worked around the baseball, behind it, you get through it much easier.”

What does he mean he couldn’t catch a ground ball?

“The fields are just so bad in New York,” he said. “I just didn’t want to put my face in there. The ball would jump up on me. The last day I played shortstop, I got hit in the face twice. I was just over it. I moved to the outfield.

“I had a lot more fun because I just really don’t like fielding ground balls. I played with a lot of Spanish players in New York. All the good baseball is Spanish. If you’ve ever been to New York, if you’ve seen these kids field ground balls, you learn very quickly where you belong in the field. And that was behind them in the outfield. In sports, you’ve got to be honest with yourself. You’ve got to know who are. You’ve got to know where you belong. And just because it might not be what you initially think it should be for yourself, it doesn’t mean it’s not ultimately the right thing for you.”

Bader played in college at Florida. The Cardinals selected him in the third round of the 2015 Draft.

He made his big league debut in 2017.

Former Cardinals outfielders Willie McGee and Ryan Ludwick worked with Bader as he ascended through St. Louis’ farm system.

“They let me play my game,” Bader said. “They realized my appetite for defense and how much I prided myself on it.”

Ludwick is St. Louis’ Minor League hitting and outfield instructor. He still follows Bader’s career.

“Philly is the perfect environment for him,” Ludwick said. “He loves the limelight, man. He doesn’t scare at all. That’s what I loved about him. I saw him during my first year with the Cardinals as a coach. I was watching him play. I was like, ‘My God, defensively, there’s no one better out there.’ I didn’t know if there was anybody better in the big leagues at the time. The way he went about his business, the self-confidence, the little big of swag he had, the way he listened, I was like, ‘Whoa, this is different.’

“He backpedals 15 feet because he knows he’s there. He can Cadillac it and put it in his pocket. Who am I to say your craft has to be better? I just let him know, ‘Hey, man, you’re really good at what you do.’ But knowing the way he goes about his business, he’s probably brought some character and energy into that clubhouse. They’re probably like, ‘Oh, [shoot], we’ve got a guy.’”

Bader has brought energy into the Phillies’ clubhouse. He certainly brought a vibe. He walked into the clubhouse for the first time in August wearing a sleeveless Alice Cooper t-shirt. He wears pink and purple arm sleeves, batting gloves and shin guards. He has strut to his walk.

Ludwick thought back to his playing days against the Phillies. He said Bader reminds him of Shane Victorino.

Then, he went even further.

“He’s kind of a cross between Victorino and Aaron Rowand,” Ludwick said.

Energy, swag, fearlessness, fun. It fits.

It’s just who Bader is. It’s normal.

“I think normal is an interesting word in sports,” Bader said. “As long as you get the job done.”