PITTSBURGH – Oscar-winning actor Michael Keaton might’ve been in the stands for the series finale between the Marlins and Pirates on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, but everyone knows Batman is the superhero who can’t fly.
Turns out fish can, though.
With Miami clinging to a 2-1 lead over Pittsburgh in the fifth inning, Marlins right-hander Max Meyer loaded the bases with two outs in his duel with reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
Meyer hung a slider to Jake Mangum, who sent a liner destined for extra bases. Instead, left-handed center fielder Jakob Marsee raced toward the right-center gap and made a diving catch to end the threat in the Marlins' eventual 4-2 victory.
“He's probably playing on the other side a little bit, shaded oppo, and was going to have to go a long way,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He was closing on it well, but still, that was as good a play as you can make. Certainly right there for us, that's probably the most pivotal play in this game.”
According to Statcast, Marsee needed to cover 65 feet with an opportunity time of 3.9 seconds. Thanks to a jump 6.2 feet above average, he was able to execute the play with a catch probability of just 25 percent. Marsee has two five-star catches this season.
“Every ball when it goes up, I think I'm going to catch it,” Marsee said. “I knew I was going to have to dive and make a play, but I thought I had a chance.”
Thanks to Marsee’s heroics, Meyer tossed six innings of one-run ball and collected his seventh win. He is the only pitcher in Marlins history to not be charged with a loss through 15 starts to begin a season, which also marks the longest such streak in the Majors since the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin (17 games from April 9-July 13, 2022).
“That was an unbelievable catch,” Meyer said. “That was one of the best ones I've ever seen. I couldn't believe it. I don't know what I did for my reaction to that, but he saved the game.”
Despite Marsee’s offensive struggles this season (84 OPS+), the Marlins have insisted his value on the basepaths (team-high 17 steals) and on defense (5 outs above average) made up for it.
Sunday’s gem more than proved it.
“It's been a frustrating start, obviously, offensively,” Marsee said. “Still getting on base and working good ABs, but just hits haven't been there like I'd want. Defense is a big part of my game, and something I take a lot of pride in. I’ve always wanted to win a Gold Glove, something I've always really wanted to do. I feel like it's been kind of an underrated part of my game, and it's finally showing up more and more, and it's cool to see.”