Behind-the-back snag by a 1st baseman? Olson makes the amazing look routine
The behind-the-back play is usually reserved for pitchers, a quick reaction to a ball hit up the middle that somehow ends up as an out.
On Sunday during the Braves' 6-0 win over the Phillies at Truist Park, Matt Olson showed that first basemen can pull them off, too. And they can make a how-did-he-do-that? highlight look routine.
With one out in the sixth and the Braves holding a 5-0 lead over the Phillies, Brandon Marsh pulled a ground ball to first base. That ball wasn’t crushed – 68.3 mph exit velocity – and initially looked like it might go foul. But it stayed fair and Olson, despite appearing to overrun the ball slightly, casually made a behind-the-back stop and flipped the ball to pitcher Reynaldo López for the out.
The Braves’ broadcasters were amazed, exclaiming, “What?! How did he do that? A little Houdini trick for Matt Olson over there at first base.”
Olson is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, so I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised he pulled this one off.