Move over, Matt Chapman. Ramon Laureano is making his case as the best defensive player on the A's.
The rookie outfielder stretched for a diving catch to preserve a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. Breyvic Valera represented the tying run on second base, and a hit surely would have driven him home.
Laureano had other ideas.
Laureano & the Labor of Glove 💪 pic.twitter.com/3BzuL8QWiF— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) September 12, 2018
That 3-2 scoreline held as the final, as Oakland won its fifth straight game.
In his rookie season, Laureano has the throw of the year (that LeBron James liked), a Willie Mays impersonation, a wall-crawling catch, and Tuesday's diving effort to his name. He just played in his 32nd big-league game.
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A Gold Glove may not be in his future this season, but Chapman could have some company in the award soon enough.