Báez’ insane baserunning magic brings home a run

Cubs

Báez’ insane baserunning magic brings home a run

Nothing Javy Báez does on the baseball field should surprise us anymore.

That said, you have to see El Mago’s latest jaw-dropping magic trick on the bases to actually believe it.

With two outs in the third inning Thursday against the Pirates, Báez hit a routine groundball to third baseman Erik Gonzalez, who fired an off-line throw to first baseman Will Craig. Rather than touch first to end the inning, Craig awaited Báez to slap a tag on him.

Except, Báez halted in his tracks, backpedaling down the first base line towards home plate, with Craig giving chase.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, who had just stolen second base, never stopped running. Báez and the Cubs catcher arrived at home plate — from different directions — simultaneously.

Craig flipped a throw to catcher Michael Perez, whose tag on Contreras was too late, giving the Cubs a run.

With no one covering first base, Báez, after a brief ‘safe’ gesture, booked it, diving head first at the bag safely. Perez’ lob to Adam Frazier got away, and Báez reached second on the play.

Unbelievable.

Báez was rewarded for his magic, scoring a batter later on Ian Happ’s single. 

His nickname is El Mago for a reason.

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