What’s the best sign of a truly great pump fake? If you fake out the cameraman, too.
That’s exactly what Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez did against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, making a great heads-up play in the third inning to save a run.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Braves batter Ramon Pena hit a soft dribbler down the third base line. Fernandez chased it down and faked the throw to first base, completely fooling the broadcast’s cameraman in the process.
He then calmly flipped the ball to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia at home plate to nab baserunner Tyler Pastornicky, who had also fallen victim to Fernandez’s pump fake. Check out the 21-year-old’s veteran move below.
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The clever play highlighted a masterful outing for the young phenom, who tossed an eight-inning shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out eight in a 9-0 Marlins win.
Fernandez is 4-1 with a 1.55 ERA through six starts and has fanned 55 batters in just 39.2 innings pitched.
