Come watch the best defensive plays All-Stars have made this year
The BBQ's Best 5 is exactly what it sounds like: Each week, we'll pick a category around the world of baseball and talk about the five best things within that group. Today, we're taking a look at the five best defensive plays made this year by All-Stars.
There's never been a defense-focused version of the Home Run Derby during All Star festivities, but maybe there should be.
With the 2018 MLB All Star Game under a week away, we wanted to take some time to appreciate the fielding prowess of this year's best defenders. Defense wins championship, but it also delights the eye, invigorates the soul and inspires the mind.
Here are the five best defensive plays made by All-Stars so far this season:
5.
After returning to the Brewers in free agency this past offseason, LoCain has continued to show off the vacuum-like tendencies in center field that have made him one of the best outfielders in baseball for the last half-decade.
Cain covered a preposterous amount of ground on this fly ball. In the milliseconds between contact and the camera panning to him, he was somehow already running full speed towards the right-centerfield gap.
Who needs a right fielder if you have this guy?
4.
Besides having a smile so bright it can be seen from the International Space Station, Lindor is also capable of lighting up crowds with his glove.
This is not a body alignment you ever see baseball players fielding a ground ball from.
Side planking and fielding grounders at the same time? That's the type of dedication that made Lindor into an All-Star.
3.
While Gennett's offensive eruption this season was the driving force behind his first ever All-Star nod, he also pretty slick at second base. This gloveless play he made to nab fellow All-Star Jose Ramirez is as crafty as it gets.
This highlight also fits into a long lineage of undersized second basemen making similar impressive off-balance barehanded plays.
2.
One of the main purposes of foul territory is to absolve fielders from having to range unfairly far from their starting fielding position. With that in mind, here's Bregman unleashing an outrageous toss to first from over ten feet beyond the foul line.
He's almost as close to the stands as he is to fair territory!
We've seen some other All-Stars like
1.
For most infielders, even the best ones, defense is a craft. For Baez, it is performance art. No one in baseball is more creative on the defensive side of the ball than Baez. A graceful dream-stealer of epic proportions, Baez has assembled a deep collection of highlight reel moments this season, but this one stands above the rest.
Only Baez has both the athleticism and the instincts to pull this off. Like a chess grandmaster who can also do backflips, Baez intently read the situation developing in front of him and knew he was going to make a beeline for second base before the ball hit his glove.
There will be more than 50 All-Stars in DC next week, but only one magician.
