Oakland A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson made one of the best catches of the year against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. Typically the infield tarp can be an obstacle for fielders, but Donaldson actually used it to his advantage.
Rangers outfielder David Murphy hit a pop-up in foul territory in the sixth inning that was tailing toward the seats, and it looked like Donaldson was going to run out of room because of the tarp. Instead, he dove head first toward the stands, slid across the tarp and made the play.
We initially thought San Diego Padres outfielder Will Venable had catch of the year honors locked up with this sprawling grab, but Donaldson’s play is most certainly a contender.
