Kansas City Just Pulled Off a Double Play That Hasn't Happened Since Before Bobby Witt Jr. Was Born
The Kansas City Royals made defensive magic happen on Monday night in Cleveland, turning one of the rarest double plays in baseball history during their 4-2 win over the Guardians at Progressive Field. And honestly, it's the kind of thing that only happens when four guys on the same infield are all locked in at exactly the right moment.
Bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Manzardo on first. Guardians DH Rhys Hoskins ripped a low liner toward third baseman Maikel Garcia, who made a lunging grab but the ball popped right out of his glove before he could secure it. That's where the magic happened. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was right there, fielded the loose ball, and fired a laser to second baseman Jonathan India. India didn't hesitate, spinning and firing to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to complete the double play: 5-6-4-3.
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When asked if they'd worked on this sequence in pregame, Witt deadpanned that infield coach Jose Alguacil had been helping them try it. Then he shook his head, unable to keep the joke going. Because here's the thing: you can't actually practice a double play like this. It only works when four guys anticipate and react perfectly in the moment.
"You play this game long enough, some crazy things happen," Witt said.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the previous 5-6-4-3 double play in MLB came on August 24, 1995, when the Giants turned it in Montreal. That's 31 years ago. Witt wasn't even born yet. None of them were. India is 29, Pasquantino is 28, Garcia is 26, and Witt is 25. Every single guy who turned this double play came into the world after the last one happened.
Defense Wins Games
Royals starter Michael Wacha wasn't shy about the impact those four guys are having behind him. "We've got some absolute studs out there playing defense," he said. "It was another night where they were showcasing it. It's fun being on that mound knowing we got those guys behind us."
Garcia summed it up perfectly: "I know Bobby's always behind me." And Monday night, that extra layer of backup made all the difference in turning something almost nobody alive has ever seen.
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