Nolan Arenado amazes again with jump-throw from foul territory
The Colorado Rockies may not be winning many games this season, but the left side of their infield is still providing must-see highlights on an almost daily basis.
On Friday, All-Star Troy Tulowitzki dazzled us when he debuted his reverse jump-throw to start a 6-4-3 double play against Justin Upton.
On Saturday, first-time All-Star and two-time defending Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado raised the bar even higher, going into foul territory to retire Austin Hedges with a jump-throw of his own.
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But it wasn’t just the throw that made this play special. It was everything leading up that made it possible. From his superior range, to his quick but soft hands, to his excellent footwork, Arenado did everything exactly as needed to give himself a chance. He then capped that play with his athleticism and powerful arm.
It’s a play we’ve seen Arenado make in several different forms before. It’s also a play we’ve seen from Baltimore’s Manny Machado on a couple of occasions. But you’d be hard pressed to find many third baseman throughout baseball history capable of making the play consistently.
Brooks Robinson is certainly one of them, and that’s truly high praise for Arenado.
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Above everything, it takes a special set of skills to make this type of play. But Arenado’s actually one of those players whose defense was threatening to hold him back in the minor leagues three years ago. He’s worked tirelessly since to correct and perfect his glove work while developing all aspects of his game.
Because of that hard work, there’s no denying Nolan Arenado has all the makings of a franchise player.
And he’s only 24.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
