Oh man. That was so awesome. What a freaking play by Nico Hoerner.
To set the stage, Andrew Chafin got the 8th inning in a Cubs-leading game, as he increasingly has. He’s now the primary setup man for Craig Kimbrel. But tonight, he just didn’t have it, walking a couple and allowing a single. So with the bases loaded, the Cubs up three, and Starlin Castro at the plate, Chafin gave up what appeared to be a two-run single that was gonna leave the tying run there at third.
But that’s when Nico Hoerner made the play that blew our minds and made Chafin look like the screenshot up there:
Ice-cold, @nico_hoerner.#CubTogether pic.twitter.com/XBdM3c9JVX
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 18, 2021
That thing was TICKETED for the outfield, and I figured Hoerner had no shot of getting to it, much less pulling of a lightning quick transfer and throw. I mean, Castro ain’t fast, but still. That play wasn’t even close at first base.
Nico in flight:
RANGE.@nico_hoerner pic.twitter.com/EtERfh0rdK
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 18, 2021
Dude was a Gold Glove finalist last year at second base for a reason.