NEW YORK – Mets center fielder Juan Lagares made a running, over-the-shoulder catch with his back to the plate Wednesday night, a play that would've made Willie Mays proud, and a play that robbed Braves rookie Jace Peterson of an extra-base hit.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez called it one of the best plays he ever saw. It was so spectacular, even Braves shortstop extraordinaire Andrelton Simmons could hardly believe it.
“That was pretty impressive,” Simmons said before Thursday’s series finale. “I don’t know how he had the angle of his glove to catch that. He shouldn’t have caught that.”
Simmons has won Gold Gloves as the National League’s best-fielding shortstop in each of his first two full seasons, and a Platinum Glove as the NL’s best overall defender. Lagares won a Gold Glove last year in his second season, and some believe he could be Simmons’ chief competition for the NL Platinum Glove for as long as both players are in the NL.
“He’s really good,” Simmons said. “You can’t not notice him. He’s always taking away hits. I mean, he’s fun to watch. When you’re playing against him, it’s not so fun. He’s really good out there. He can throw people out, he’s good at tracking balls down – he’s a fun guy to watch play defense.”
Mets players have had similar things to say about Simmons, who has robbed the Mets of numerous hits over the past few seasons, and made three of his most sensational plays in the past two seasons against New York’s Travis d’Arnaud.
“Pretty fun to watch,” Braves closer Jason Grilli said of a series featuring both players. As for Lagares robbing a Brave of a hit after Simmons has done the same multiple times against the Mets, Grilli laughed and said, “I guess what comes around, goes around, right?”
Simmons was asked whether he and Lagares have talked, maybe given each other compliments about their defensive prowess.
“On the basepaths, I talked to him,” Simmons said. “He told me yesterday, he didn’t know how he caught that (Peterson fly ball). It was pretty impressive.”
