5 best defensive plays of last week
You may not be able to win the Gold Glove on a single play, but you can certainly serve notice. The first two weeks of the regular season have brought an amazing collection of highlight-caliber plays, from infielders making incredible diving catches to outfielders climbing the walls to save home runs.
Both leagues have had their share of standouts so far, with defenders going all out to back up their pitchers. Some have risked bodily harm to make sure they made the catch, and others have turned in superhuman efforts that not even their teammates could believe.
Here's a look at the five best plays made by defenders around the league last week.
Video: MLB Central uses Statcast on Pillar's amazing catch
No. 1: Kevin Pillar
The Blue Jays outfielder saw the deep drive the whole way, but he never gave up on it. The 26-year-old Pillar tracked back to the wall, leaped and climbed the fence like Spider-Man to save a home run on a backhand catch.
Video: Must C Catch: Arenado slams into tarp, reels in out
No. 2: Nolan Arenado
Athleticism, thy name is Arenado. Colorado's third baseman chased this foul ball at a dead sprint and caught it before crashing headlong into the tarp. He then had the presence of mind to turn and throw to third in a bid to get the runner tagging up from second.
Video: ATL@TOR: Simmons makes an impressive, sliding grab
No. 3: Andrelton Simmons
Atlanta's shortstop didn't have time to call anyone off as he sprinted to the outfield, with his back to the plate, to make a tremendous over-the-shoulder catch and rob the Blue Jays' Devon Travis of a base hit.
Video: MIL@PIT: Ballgirl makes a tough grab on line drive
No. 4: The Ballgirl Grab
You can feel safe in the right-field stands at PNC Park. This stellar glovework came from a Pirates ballgirl, who reached over her head to snare a red-hot liner right by the wall.
No. 5: Jon Lester
Sometimes, you just have to think fast. Chicago southpaw Lester fielded a comebacker, but he couldn't get the ball out of his glove. So what did he do? He just threw his glove to first base.Video: Must C Curious: Lester tosses glove to Rizzo for out