Trout tops list of stellar Statcast action
Mike Trout is one of those rare talents who come around every so often, and fortunately for baseball fans, the Angels outfielder is playing in an era where his exploits on the diamond can be tracked and shared using Statcast™.
Trout made another dazzling play in the outfield in a 2-1 loss to the Rangers, covering over 100 feet for the first time this season to snag a deep fly ball.
In addition to Trout's fine catch, Saturday's action also saw plenty of speed by Rajai Davis, a game-winning grab by Byron Buxton, Nolan Arenado's home run hot streak and some slick fielding by Todd Frazier. Here's an in-depth look at each of those plays, courtesy of Statcast™.
Trout's long run
Trout had to work for the second out in the top of the sixth inning against the Rangers, running 109.9 feet to track down Rougned Odor's fly ball at Angel Stadium.
Trout hauled in the 98.5-mph drive at the warning track in left-center, a projected 382.7 feet from home plate. The center fielder reached a maximum speed of 20 mph, accelerated in 4.5 seconds and ran a 98.6 percent efficient route to make the play.
Prior to Saturday, Trout's season high for distance covered was 97.9 feet to catch a Chase Headley fly ball against the Yankees on June 29 at Angel Stadium. On that play, Trout reached a maximum speed of 20.1 mph to snag Headley's 96.5-mph drive to right-center.
Video: NYY@LAA: Trout tracks it down in center field
Three sides to Davis' speed
Davis' athleticism was on full display during the Tigers' 6-0 win over the Indians. The outfielder motored around the bases for a triple, robbed a hit on defense and even had one taken away on a great play by Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Video: CLE@DET: Lindor throws out Davis at first base
• Davis' busy day on Statcast™ started in the bottom of the third inning, when he hit a chopper between Lindor and third baseman Giovanny Urshela. Davis accelerated in 3.9 seconds to reach his top speed of 21.2 mph, but Lindor used a 72.3-mph, 100.3-foot throw to rob Davis of an infield hit.
Video: CLE@DET: Davis impacts the game with speed and hustle
• It didn't take long for Davis to return the favor. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Jerry Sands drove a 2-2 pitch toward the gap in left-center. Davis kept the 97.8-mph liner from dropping in for a hit, accelerating in 3.8 seconds to reach his max speed of 20 mph and covering 68.1 feet for a diving catch to end the frame.
• With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Davis flashed his speed again for his ninth triple of the season. He raced from home to third base in 11.2 seconds. Along the way, he accelerated in 10.3 seconds and reached a maximum speed of 20.6 mph.
Arenado extends homer streak
Arenado made Rockies history with his homer off Jake Peavy, which gave the third baseman homers in six straight games to break the franchise record he shared with Dante Bichette (Aug. 1-5, 1995) and Larry Walker (June 18-23, 1999).
Video: Statcast™ tracks Arenado's power during six-game tear
Arenado took Peavy deep in the sixth inning for a two-out, two-run shot to left field, which was projected by Statcast™ to land 410 feet away. Arenado's six-game homer streak is the longest in the Majors since 2012, when Orioles slugger Chris Davis matched that total (Sept 26-Oct. 2).
Here's a closer look at Arenado's home run barrage from the last six games, complete with metrics from Statcast™:
• Saturday: 410 feet, 103.9 mph exit velocity, 26.1 degree launch angle
• Friday: 410, 107, 22.1
• Thursday: 401, 105, 41.1
• Wednesday: 423, 103, 36.0
• Tuesday (Game 2): 434, 102, 31.5
• Tuesday (Game 1): 442, 103, 27.7
Buxton seals the win
The Twins remained in the thick of the American League Wild Card race thanks to a tumbling catch by Buxton to clinch Saturday's 3-2 win over the Astros.
Video: MIN@HOU: Buxton races to make the catch, end game
With the bases loaded and two outs, Jose Altuve lined the first pitch he saw to center field. But Buxton prevented the 104.3-mph drive from finding grass, making his first step toward the ball in 0.5 seconds and covering 32 feet in a hurry to turn the liner into an out.
Buxton reached a maximum speed of 16.5 mph and ran a 95.5 percent efficient route, robbing Altuve of a potential walk-off hit.
Frazier flashes leather
With one out and nobody on in the third inning of an 8-6 loss to the Brewers in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Great American Ballpark, Brewers shortstop Jean Segura knocked a grounder just inside the third base line. Frazier quickly reacted as he lunged to his right, making his first step in 0.2 seconds.
Video: MIL@CIN: Statcast™ tracks Frazier's superb diving stop
Segura hustled down the line, reaching a top speed of 20.6 mph. But Frazier made the exchange in 1.7 seconds and unleashed a 71.9-mph, 112.6-foot throw to an outstretched Joey Votto to record the out.