Watch: Smolinski takes away extra bases with sick leaping catch
MLB.com
More like Jake Stole-inski, amirite?
The Oakland Athletics' newly anointed center fielder showed off his penchant for thievery Tuesday, robbing Cleveland's Lonnie Chisenhall of extra bases with an impressive leaping grab of an eight-inning line drive that appeared destined for the right-center gap.
Smolinski, who hadn't played center field at the big-league level until last month, covered approximately 63 feet to haul in Chisenhall's drive, which left the bat at 106 miles per hour, according to Statcast.
"I didn't think he had a chance at it," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "He got such a great jump on it and made a complete head-long dive to get it. That's a big play."
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)
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