VIDEO: Royals' Escobar executes sensational back-handed flip from his stomach

For a guy who suffered a knee strain in April and spent a week on the concussion disabled list earlier this month, Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar looked pretty smooth Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

In the eighth inning of his club's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, the 28-year-old took a base hit away from Matt Adams with a stupendous diving grab followed by a marvelous flip to second base - from his stomach, mind you - to complete the fielder's choice.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Escobar, by the way, ranks ninth among shortstops with two defensive runs saved this season and has helped the Royals fashion a .740 defensive efficiency rating, the best mark in the majors thus far.