Top 10 Defensive Plays of 2010s
From Dean's Perspective
I was scrolling across YouTube the other day and noticed a Top 10 video with millions of views. Of course, it was baseball, and I immediately watched. When it finished, I realized, “Well, that seems easy to make.” So, I used my 2nd-grade level editing tools to make a video on the best plays in the 2020s. It has gone over 2k views and is adding numbers every day. So, I made another one! I decided to make a blog out of it as well, doubling up the content.
I have included the video below if you want to watch it. However, for all you TikTok brains who can’t watch a 10-minute video, I have listed each play in order on this blog. Enjoy!
10. Mike Trout’s Home Run Robbery (2012)
Date: June 27, 2012
Description: Mike Trout, playing for the Los Angeles Angels, leaped high above the center-field wall to rob J.J. Hardy of a home run. Although Trout is an overrated defender, this catch will always be on his career highlight reel.
9. Yasiel Puig’s Cannon Throw (2016)
Date: April 22, 2016
Description: Yasiel Puig unleashed a 310-foot throw from right field to nail Trevor Story at third base.
8. Billy Hamilton’s Wall-Climbing Catch (2018)
Date: July 13, 2018
Description: Billy Hamilton scaled the outfield wall and made an acrobatic catch, preventing a home run and displaying his incredible defensive range. Hamilton made an appearance on my last list as well. Please do yourself a favor and go watch his career highlights. Not much offense, but the defense is crazy.
7. Aaron Judge’s Home Run Robbery (2017 ALCS)
Date: October 21, 2017
Description: In Game 7 of the ALCS, Aaron Judge leaped to rob a home run, keeping the game scoreless. Yankees would go on to lose, but still a cool play.
6. Lorenzo Cain’s Home Run Robbery (2019)
Date: March 28, 2019
Description: In the season opener, Lorenzo Cain jumped at the wall to rob José Martínez of a home run. In hindsight, I should probably have this like 8 on the list, but it is a lot of work to re-edit the video so deal with it.
5. Nolan Arenado’s Tarp Dive (2015)
Date: April 15, 2015
Description: Nolan Arenado sprinted and dove over the tarp along the third-base line to make a spectacular catch.
4. Austin Jackson Flips Over the Wall (2017)
Date: August 1, 2017
Description: Austin Jackson timed his leap perfectly to rob a home run, flipping over the wall in the process. In terms of coolness, this probably would be higher. However, two of the next three plays were so crucial to the game that they get the leg up.
3. Andrew Benintendi’s Game-Saving Dive (2018 ALCS)
Date: October 17, 2018
Description: In Game 4 of the ALCS, Andrew Benintendi made a full-extension diving catch with the bases loaded, preserving the Red Sox's lead and ending the game. Who knows what happens if this series evens up at 2-2. If I were a completely bias person, I would stick to this #1. But I’m not, so it will stay at #3. I still get chills whenever I watch it, though.
2. Kevin Pillar’s Superman Catch (2015)
Date: April 15, 2015
Description: Kevin Pillar launched himself upward to make a jaw-dropping Superman-esque catch.
1. Gregor Blanco’s Diving Catch (2012)
Date: June 13, 2012
Description: Gregor Blanco made a spectacular diving catch in deep right-center field, preserving Matt Cain's perfect game for the San Francisco Giants in one of the most memorable defensive plays of the decade.
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