Statcast sheds light on two stunning catches

ByMatthew Leach/MLB.com|6/13/2014 2:00 P.M. ET

We knew Yasiel Puig was fast. We knew Andrew McCutchen was smooth. Now we have an idea of just how fast and just how smooth.

In the latest example of MLB Advanced Media's new Statcast player tracking metrics, the two star outfielders show their stuff on defense. We've got a look at each of them making a spectacular running catch at New York's Citi Field, and the comparative data gives a good idea of how each man achieves his defensive success.

McCutchen is quick, smooth and polished. Puig is just flat-out fast. In each case, it works nicely.

Twice in the span of a week in late May, Mets hitters were robbed of extra bases. On May 22, Wilmer Flores hit a deep drive to right-center. It first appeared to be Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp's ball, but Puig flew into the midst of the play and made the tumbling catch.

"Oh man, I can't believe he caught it," Kemp said at the time, also adding a little more color to his language. "I was shocked."

Five days later, Juan Lagares hit a liner, also to right-center, that Pirates superstar McCutchen seemed to swallow up from his place in center. There was never any doubt who this one belonged to, but it was no sure thing it would be caught until the ball rested in McCutchen's glove.

"The ball's hit, and I just said, 'I'm going to go get it,'" McCutchen said. "Basically what I did, [I] tried to stay on top of it, see where it was due to come down and go get it. [It] was a good play, a long run, and I was able to cover a lot of ground to get to it."

How each man made his highlight-reel play differed quite a bit. Puig's route was a little less direct, but his top-end speed was stunning. McCutchen didn't reach the same peak velocity, but his initial read on the ball proved to be perfect.

Looking at the Puig play, one number stands out above any other: his maximum speed of 21.1 MPH. That's 9.43 meters per second, more than 10 yards per second. It's an absolutely blistering pace, one that makes up for a slightly slower jump and a less efficient route to the ball.

Originally posted here:
Statcast sheds light on two stunning catches