Watch: MLB Player Gets the Out After Throwing Perfect 321-Foot Throw Across the Field
Most people have never heard of Oakland A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano, but he made a name for himself Saturday with one of the best defensive plays you’ll see all year.
The A’s rookie, who was called up on Aug. 2 from Triple-A Nashville, made a stunning, 321-foot throw from deep centerfield to first base to double up the Angels’ Eric Young Jr. during the third inning of Oakland’s 7-0 win over the Angels.
Words don’t do it justice, you have to see it to appreciate it.
https://twitter.com/statcast/status/1028468338291290112
With Young on first and one out, Justin Upton drilled a shot to deep left centerfield. Laureano, 24, tracked it down and made an excellent over-the-shoulder catch to get Upton.
The catch alone would have been enough — a great play on its own — but then Laureano, after stopping his momentum from making the running catch, turned and fired to first in an attempt to double up Young.
Young had already rounded second and was heading for third, so he thought for sure it was extra bases. When he realizes that Laureano caught it, Young raced back to first. Laureano needed a perfect throw to get him and that’s what he delivered to first baseman Mark Canha.
Statcast measured the throw at 321 feet in the air, no bounces, and right on the money. You won’t see many better throws than that this season.
OH MY WHAT A THROW 😱
(via @NBCSAthletics) pic.twitter.com/f41qiwfDzE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 12, 2018
“He’s a game-changer,” A’s pitcher Edwin Jackson told The Associated Press. “I’ve seen him make a play similar to that in Triple-A when I was in Nashville. I knew he had it in him but, man, plays like that, if those don’t get you fired up then I don’t know what does.”
Jackson (4-2) pitched 7 and one-third innings of shutout ball to get the win. Marcus Semian had two home runs and four RBIs to lead the A’s.
“First of all, to make the catch. And after that the throw. That’s what he’s capable of doing. He’s a playmaker for sure. I’m sure you’ll see much more of it,” Jackson added.
Laureano has only played in five Major League games, but he is already making his mark. In his first game, Aug. 3, against the Tigers, he gunned down Jose Iglesias at third in the top of the 13th. In the bottom of the 13th he delivered the game-winning RBI single to lift the As to a 1-0 win.
The A’s have been the biggest surprise of the 2018 MLB season. Baseball America, in its preseason predictions, had them picked dead last in the AL West — and it wasn’t alone.
But here A’s are with a record of 69-48, winners of eight of their last 10, and currently holding on to one of the wildcard spots in the American League.
And it looks like they may have a future star in Laureano.
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