Byron Buxton is one of the best defensive center fielders in Major League Baseball, and plays like this ridiculous catch against the Cleveland Indians is the reason why.
Carlos Santana just got robbed of extra bases. One hell of a catch by Byron Buxton. pic.twitter.com/gqVdSbznDN
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) May 14, 2017
I’ve broken this absurd catch down into give five distinct phases:
Phase 1: The Launch
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8516609/buxton1.png)
Phase 2: The Catch
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8516615/buxton2.png)
Phase 3: The Impact
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8516617/buxton3.png)
Phase 4: The Fall
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8516619/buxton4.png)
Phase 5: The Letting Everyone Know I’m Still Alive
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8516683/catch5_1.png)
This is just simply amazing, and for him to just hop right up after an impact like that makes it even more impressive.