The web gem. There’s nothing quite like it. When we see tremendous defense in baseball, it inspires awe and we often marvel at how such incredible plays can be made.
As we near Spring Training and the dawn of a new season, MLB Network ranked the top 50 defensive plays made in 2025. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Denzel Clarke … HOW?!
The Angels’ Nolan Schanuel crushed a pitch from A’s right-hander Grant Holman in the bottom of the first inning at Angel Stadium on June 9, and this ball was destined to land well beyond the center-field fence. But Clarke wouldn’t allow it to land anywhere but his glove.
The rookie center fielder ran back to the wall, leaped while digging his right foot into the padding and, with half his body over the fence, reached out full-extension across his body to snare Schanuel’s drive, to the disbelief of everyone in the ballpark … except, perhaps, for himself.
Then, in an impressive display of strength, Clarke held up his own body weight with his bare hand to get himself upright, spun around and back down to earth. It instantly became one of the greatest home run robberies of all time.
2. Baseball, it’s a lot like hacky sack!
You truly never know what you’ll see when you go to the ballpark on any given day. Take, for instance, what happened in the fifth inning at Citi Field on Sept. 21. With the Nationals in town to play the Mets, Brett Baty launched a pitch from Nats right-hander Jake Irvin deep to center.
As he went back toward the wall, center fielder Jacob Young got turned around, and while he fell back against the fence, he appeared to catch the ball. But the ball fell out with the impact of the wall. Before it hit the warning track, Young had the presence of mind to kick the ball back up and catch it.
The ball never touched the ground. It was a “hacky sack catch,” and it was a thing of beauty.
3. Don’t trip -- but if you do, do what Daulton Varsho did
In the fourth inning of the Blue Jays-Red Sox game at Rogers Centre on April 29, Boston’s Jarren Duran belted a drive to deep center field. Varsho sprinted back and, just as he got to the warning track, he tripped, fell and rolled over.
Somehow, Varsho was still able to recover enough to sit up and make a backhanded catch.
4. Going [Pro]far beyond the fence to rob a homer
Jurickson Profar was the top prospect in baseball before making his MLB debut in 2013, but over the first several years of his career, he didn’t reach the heights that were projected for him. Still, he has shown us moments of brilliance, both at the plate -- he put together an .839 OPS with 24 home runs for the Padres in 2024 -- and in the field.
Speaking of heights, perhaps no defensive play Profar has made was better than the one he pulled off on Aug. 9. With the Braves hosting the Marlins at Truist Park, Agustín Ramírez smashed a ball deep to left field. Profar hurried back to the wall, made a leap and an incredible backhanded grab somewhat reminiscent of the No. 1 play on this list. And he made it look smooth.
5. Ceddanne Rafaela with master thievery in the desert
He didn’t win a Gold Glove in the outfield last year for nothing. Rafaela had to go a long way for this drive off the bat of the D-backs’ Corbin Carroll at Chase Field on Sept. 6, but the trip was worth it.
With one out in the fifth inning, Corbin’s drive looked as though it would land somewhere near the pool beyond the fence in right-center field. But Rafaela got there in time to leap and extend his glove over the wall to reel it back in.
6. Denzel double-take
Clarke makes his second appearance among the top 10 with another home run robbery, this time against the Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk at Rogers Centre on May 30. In the fourth inning, Kirk drove one deep to center field, but with Clarke patrolling that area, it’s always a dicey proposition to send a ball that way.
After drifting back toward the wall, Clarke leaped and made a great catch to steal a homer from Kirk, making it look way too easy in the process. And the Toronto native did it on his home soil, too.
7. Tall wall? Not a problem for Young
Speaking of stealing homers with style, Young makes a second appearance of his own. This time, he had a lot higher to go with the tall wall in left-center field at Nationals Park. On July 2 against the Tigers, Young made like Spiderman and scaled the wall for an outstanding backhanded catch to rob Riley Greene.
He finished the play with a flourish, spinning back around in mid-air as he returned to the ground.
8. Noelvi Marte saves the game in the 9th
With the Pirates trailing the Reds by one and down to their final two outs in the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 25, Brian Reynolds hit one deep to right.
Marte, who had to that point mostly played third base in the Majors, drifted back and got to the wall with time to measure his jump. He leaped and needed every inch of his reach to bring back what would have been a game-tying homer.
9. Fernando Tatis Jr. with a smooth robbery at Petco
We’ve come to expect the tremendous from Tatis, whether it’s at the plate, on the basepaths or in the field. He made a seamless transition from shortstop to full-time duty in right field in 2023, and he has won two Gold Glove Awards in the past three years at his new position.
So when Tatis robbed the Reds’ Tyler Stephenson of a home run on Sept. 9 at Petco Park, it wasn’t surprising. But it was certainly sensational. Tatis made the incredibly difficult look routine, striding back to the fence and in a fluid motion leaping to make the backhanded catch.
10. Andy Pages saves the Series
With one of the most clutch plays in World Series history, Pages seemingly came out of nowhere to make a great running catch that saved the Dodgers' season in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 against the Blue Jays last fall.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Ernie Clement drove a ball deep to left field. As Kiké Hernández went back to try and catch it, it appeared the ball was going to fall over his head and in for a World Series-clinching win by Toronto. But Pages sprinted over from center and made the breathtaking grab.
In the 11th, Dodgers catcher Will Smith launched a go-ahead homer and Los Angeles successfully defended its title in a thrilling 5-4 victory.
No. 11-No. 20
11. Young climbs wall for ANOTHER home run robbery (July 23) Watch >
12. Rafaela and Abreu combine for amazing play (May 14) Watch >
13. Guillorme makes stellar diving catch (June 16) Watch >
14. Mullins scales the wall to rob homer (July 30) Watch >
15. Fraley’s fantastic diving grab (June 10) Watch >
16. Clarke with another gem, this time on the run (June 6) Watch >
17. A WILD 8-6-2 double play in the NLCS (Oct. 13) Watch >
18. Acuña uncorks an unbelievable throw (July 18) Watch >
19. Merrill brings one back in Philly (June 30) Watch >
20. Buxton seals the win with a diving catch (April 22) Watch >
Young and Clarke are back with more stunning plays in this group. We also see a pair of Red Sox Gold Glove winners teaming up for an unbelievable catch, absolute chaos on the bases that results in a wild double play in the World Series and a Buxton special to close out a Twins win.
No. 21-No. 30
21. Rocchio’s clutch diving play saves the day (Sept. 14) Watch >
22. Forever Young: Jacob does it again! (Sept. 21) Watch >
23. I got it! No, you got it! Dingler, McKinstry team up for catch (June 2) Watch >
24. Victor-y: Robles’ diving catch clinches a Mariners win (Sept. 20) Watch >
25. Harris II makes great over-the-shoulder grab (May 12) Watch >
26. Greene denies Neto in the Motor City (Aug. 8) Watch >
27. McMahon flips the script in AL Wild Card Series (Oct. 2) Watch >
28. Lee makes the catch … with his knees? (Aug. 17) Watch >
29. Blaze-ing in the desert -- Alexander robs a homer (Sept. 6) Watch >
30. An unconventional double play to force Game 7 (Oct. 31) Watch >
In this set, the Tigers’ Zach McKinstry shows why it pays to be around the play as he completes a crazy catch in foul territory off the glove of catcher Dillon Dingler. We’ve also got Jung Hoo Lee letting us know that you don’t really need a glove -- or even your hands -- to make a great catch, and a couple of thrilling postseason plays, one of which forced Game 7 of the World Series.
No. 31-40
31. Nando says nope! Tatis with a ridiculous robbery (Aug. 20) Watch >
32. García with a stupendous juggling catch (Aug. 10) Watch >
33. Conine goes WAY over the wall (March 29) Watch >
34. Taylor with a Superman-style grab (June 12) Watch >
35. A Freeway Series triple play? Involving Ohtani? Yep! (Aug. 12) Watch >
36. Bellissimo! Bellinger’s awesome double play (July 6) Watch >
37. Hill puts the “full” in full-extension catch (April 8) Watch >
38. A leap, a spin and a dive = a De La Cruz double play (Sept. 1) Watch >
39. Jumpin' Jackson: Chourio steals homer (May 18) Watch >
40. No-fly zone: J-ROD brings it back (May 14) Watch >
More spectacular plays in the outfield here, as well as one of the most athletic unassisted double plays you’ll ever see and even a snazzy triple play from the Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers.
No. 41-50
41. Around the horn for a mile-high triple play (April 5) Watch >
42. Mullins, are you kidding?! A must-see play (May 16) Watch >
43. Nothing but net: Yastrzemski’s sensational catch (July 30) Watch >
44. PCA lays out for incredible catch on Independence Day (July 4) Watch >
45. Max effort: Fried with a smooth double play (Sept. 2) Watch >
46. At their Witt’s end: Bobby's range is insane (Sept. 2) Watch >
47. Sale goes all-out for the out (June 18) Watch >
48. Judgment rendered: Judge robs PCA in the Bronx (July 11) Watch >
49. Who’s on first? Lowe starts 3-6-3 triple play (April 25) Watch >
50. What a debut! Montgomery’s unbelievable grab (July 4) Watch >
Two more triple plays in this final group, along with a stunning catch by Yaz going into the net in foul ground, Pete Crow-Armstrong stealing a homer and then having one stolen a week later and one of the best plays you’ll ever see in a player’s Major League debut.