When Albert Almora Jr. was making his way up through the Cubs farm system, we heard plenty about the potential in his bat and his A+ makeup. But one skill always stood out above the rest — his plus-plus center field defense.
And although the bat never quite clicked at the big league level the way we imagined/hoped (okay, sometimes prayed), his outfield defense has kept him on big league rosters for most of his career.
Most recently, he’s been playing left field for the Cincinnati Reds, and tonight he made one hell of a defensive play. Watch as he makes a buttery-smooth sliding stop all the way out to the left field warning track before popping up and unloading a strike to second base to get the greedy runner.
From the warning track!@albertalmora with one of the best plays you'll see tonight. pic.twitter.com/YyBD72Px7B
— MLB (@MLB) June 8, 2022
That’s a big-time play and I can’t figure out which part is most impressive: the stop, the pop, or the perfect throw? It’s all so pretty.
And, hey, he did just recently hit a grand slam, too.
Albert Almora Jr. grand slam for the lead! pic.twitter.com/vp9XOdjosA
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 4, 2022