Scooter Gennett is having himself one hell of a season here in 2018, slashing .322/.366/.509 (133 wRC+), with 2.9 WAR and 14 home runs as we approach the All-Star break. And although he hit similarly well last season, the rest of his game, especially his defense, is what helped him earn his first All-Star nomination this year.
Take last night for example, when he made arguably the best bare-handed play I have ever seen:
https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1016672492331642881
If you can’t tell, the direction of the ball off the bat took Gennett way over to the first-base line, but when it ricocheted off Joey Votto’s glove, Gennett had to plant, turn around and dive in the exact opposite direction in which the momentum of his body was headed. And THEN he had to put his bare hand on the ball, find his “footing,” and make a throw from his knees in time.
It was absolutely brilliant and one of the more impressive plays we’ve seen this season.