Giménez's no-look 'platinum' play helps Guards win 4th straight 

MINNEAPOLIS -- There are only a few guarantees in life: Death, taxes and Andrés Giménez making an unbelievable play every time he’s on the diamond.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt knew this from afar, but day after day in Spring Training, as Giménez pulled off some improbable maneuver in the dirt in Cactus League play, Vogt struggled to put his awe into words.

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As expected, this has carried into the regular season and Giménez’s glove was key in preserving the Guardians’ series-clinching 3-1 victory over the Twins on Saturday afternoon at Target Field, extending the team’s win streak to four.

“There’s a reason there’s platinum on Gimé’s wrist,” Vogt said. “They make plays like that and you act like you’re not shocked, but it’s still amazing to watch these guys do it.”

The Guardians had a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Minnesota put runners on first and second with none out. Former Clevelander Carlos Santana served a hard-hit chopper up the middle that looked like it would trickle into the outfield. If it did, Byron Buxton, who was on second and has elite speed, would’ve had his sights set on home plate.

“As soon as the ball’s hit, you’re like, dang, that’s a base hit up the middle,” catcher David Fry said.

Instead, Giménez slid on one knee and backhanded the ball, preventing it from trickling into the grass. He kept the ball in the infield, forcing Buxton to go no farther than third. Giménez’s job was done. Or so we all thought.

In Platinum Glove fashion, Giménez wasn’t satisfied with simply stopping the ball. He wanted the out. Max Kepler was hustling from first to second base -- so much so that Giménez had no chance of transferring the ball from glove to hand to make a toss to Brayan Rocchio, who was covering the bag. Instead, Giménez flicked his glove in the direction of the base, allowing the ball to trickle toward his target.

“After you feel like you’ve got the ball, just try to make the play at second,” Giménez said. “I just tried to put it on the base, but it was on the other side, so Brayan helped me out. He did a tremendous job there.”

You can’t complain about having less than pinpoint accuracy when someone is making a play solely with leather while his momentum is carrying him in the opposite direction of where the ball is going. But, as Giménez said, the flip was off line. That’s when Rocchio stepped in to help.

“We know each other,” Rocchio said. “I know how he likes to play, when he likes to go in front of the ball or behind the ball.”

Rocchio lunged forward to reach the off-line roll, while keeping his foot firmly planted on the bag to record the out. At the same time, Kepler slid into second base, attempting to beat the toss, and his spike went straight into Rocchio’s planted foot. Even still, Rocchio didn’t budge.

‘The way he held the position and at the same time grabbed the ball, and then he got contact,” Giménez said. “It was impressive that he kept the ball in the glove.”

The out was made. Buxton stayed at third. A hit batter loaded the bases, but two strikeouts allowed the Guardians to end one of the most dangerous innings of the day unscathed.

“We kind of sometimes take for granted how good [Giménez] is over there,” Fry said. “It’s still like dang, base hit, oh, he got to it, oh, he made the flip. Unbelievable. It’s just so cool.”

There’s a reason Giménez has won a Gold Glove (and Platinum in 2023) in each of the previous two years. There’s also a reason why the Guardians are hesitant to move him to his natural position at shortstop. Like the old adage goes: if it’s not broken, why fix it?

“It’s not easy. I’m telling you,” Giménez said. “It’s been a lot of work behind the [scenes]. A lot of practice.”

In order to compete this year, the Guardians are going to have to keep up their elite defense and hot-swinging offense, especially now that they know Shane Bieber is out for the year. Giménez continues to prove why he’s essential to their success.

“When he’s going and he’s hitting like he is right now, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Fry said. “Everything that’s hit to him is an out. He’s barreling everything. He steals bases. He’s super fun to watch.”