It wasn’t the most graceful play of the MLB season, but it was impressive nonetheless — especially for a former catcher.
Victor Martinez, playing first base, knocked down a scorching grounder off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury with a diving stop Sunday. He got to his feet, barehanded the baseball, dove forward and flipped the ball back to pitcher Drew Smyly for the out.
Ellsbury gave his former teammate some props, tapping Martinez on the back as the Red Sox center fielder jogged back to the dugout. Had the Tigers’ regular first baseman, Prince Fielder, attempted to make the same play, Boston may have felt the ground shake from the repeated falls.
Check out Martinez’s highlight reel play in the video below.
