Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez combine for 10th-inning defensive gem in KC Royals’ win
In his first major-league game, the Kansas City Royals young phenom Bobby Witt Jr. came up with a clutch hit late in a tight game to drive in the winning run and send the already-excited home crowd into a frenzy.
So in his second game in the big leagues, Witt combined with catcher Salvador Perez on an early entry for defensive play of the year that cut down a runner at the plate in the 10th inning of a scoreless game.
The Royals won, 1-0, a half inning later on Adalberto Mondesi’s walk-off RBI single in taking the second game in a row against the Cleveland Guardians in their season-opening series at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday.
In a game that featured several examples of defensive wizardry that left mouths agape, the Witt play left some players in the Royals clubhouse at a loss for words, some shaking their heads in amazement and others just wanting to talking about what they’d seen.
“That was a sick play! That was a sick play,” second baseman Nicky Lopez repeated as reporters approached Witt’s locker. “You can quote me on that!”
With one out and runners on the corners in the 10th inning with the score 0-0, the infield played in to give fielders a chance to make the play at the plate. But it also limited their range and reaction time.
Well, at least in theory it should have.
Guardians hitter Oscar Mercado hit a ball from rookie pitcher Collin Snider on the ground toward third base. Off the bat, it appeared headed for the left-field corner for a likely double.
But Witt snared it with his backhand as his momentum carried him toward the foul line. He then threw to Perez at home plate while falling to the seat of his pants.
In one motion, Perez hauled in the throw on the first-base side of the plate and quickly reached back in time to tag the runner trying to score from third.
“Snider was throwing that nasty sinker in there and I know there could be a possibility of the ball coming to me, and I know they’re going on contact too,” Witt said. “The ball was hit to me, and I threw the ball and I knew I just had to get it to Salvy because I knew he was going to make a play on it. That’s just how unbelievable he is, Gold Glove.”
The play kept the run from scoring, and Snider struck out the next batter to end the inning and keep the Guardians scoreless.
Mondesi’s eyes got wide when asked about the play.
“Oooh. What can I say? That’s something crazy,” Mondesi said. “You don’t see those plays often in the game. You know, Gold Glove at home plate. Bobby starting the season that way is something crazy … What can I say? This guy can do everything.”
While recalling the play, Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller said Witt was “just a prodigy.”
Keller, who pitched six scoreless innings, was already in the dugout when the play took place.
Snider had the best seat in the house to see the play unfold, and he has apparently already reached the stage of not being surprised by anything Witt does.
“I’m not surprised,” Snider said. “It was an unbelievable play and I had the best view ever for it. They showed the replay, and I’m like that’s my eyesight right there. I saw the tag just beat him.”
Witt wasn’t the only one who gave Snider some much-appreciated defensive support in the 10th inning.
With one out, Mondesi snagged a ball up the middle and nearly threw out the runner at first base.
While he didn’t record an out, he kept the ball on the infield and the lead runner only advanced from second to third. That set the stage for the Witt play.
“I already had a lot of faith in those guys, but to see the plays,” Snider said. “Even the one we didn’t get an out on the ball Mondi fielded, it prevented that run from scoring which then set up the next play. So I know that they were good, coming into this. For that to be my first experience with it, how could you not trust those guys? They’re unbelievable.”
This story was originally published April 9, 2022 at 9:20 PM.
