NEWSLETTER
There are plenty of ways that little leaguers imitate real MLB players every day. They’ll emulate their swings, copy their gestures, or basically do anything they can to be just a bit more like them. That’s a good thing!
Rarely does it go the other way, though.
It’s not too often you’ll see a Major League right fielder sitting down facing the outfield, or a shortstop picking his nose and kicking the dirt. But yesterday, Kelly Johnson did knock down a ground ball by sticking out his foot and kicking it just like I used to do when I was 11!
Check it out:
Wrong sport, kid.
I know that the kick save technically worked to stop the ball, but I’m not so sure it was the right move or “beautifully done” – aren’t you supposed to dive for that ball? Put another way, would you ever expect Dustin Pedroia, Robinson Cano, or Brandon Phillips to pull something like that?
But that’s okay, Johnson. It was funny and you were clearly channeling your inner little leaguer.
