Watch: Rangers Eli White Robs Rays of Home Run
Texas Rangers left fielder Eli White doesn’t just have great speed. He also had a great glove.
Tampa Ray Rays slugger Ji-Man Choi found that out the hard way on Monday night at Globe Life Field.
In the top of the first the Rays had two runners on, after Wander Franco walked and Randy Arozarena was hit by a Glenn Otto pitch. Choi had a chance to blow the game open early and he took Otto’s 1-1 pitch for a ride to deep left-center field.
Ben Ludeman / Courtesy of the Texas Rangers
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
It looked like a home run — until White caught up to it and made a catch that could end up being one of the best of the year in baseball, as he leapt over the wall to rob Choi of what would have been a three-run home run.
"It's kind of the play that I've been dreaming about making since I started playing outfield," White said to Bally Sports Southwest after the game.
How big was it? After White’s catch, Otto struck out Francisco Mejia to end the inning. What could have been a 3-0 lead for the Rays turned into a scoreless tie as the Rangers prepared to take their first at-bat.
"I was in great position," White said. "I saw the ball off the bat and I knew it was going to be a play up against the wall and I got there early enough to get in the air."
Then, in the second inning, White hit a two-run home run to dead center field to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead. He drove in Josh Smith, who was making his MLB debut and singled in his first MLB at-bat.
Courtesy of The Prospect Times
Courtesy of The Prospect Times
Ben Ludeman / Courtesy of the Texas Rangers
White is considered one of Major League Baseball’s fastest players. He has been clocked as fast as 32 miles per hour this season. The Rangers have used him as a leadoff hitter and as a No. 9 hitter, and he’s had success helping the Rangers’ offense in both places in the order.
Entering the game, White was only hitting .171 with one home run and five RBI, along with a .267 on-base percentage and a .237 slugging percentage. But, White’s speed comes in handy on basepaths, as he has eight stolen bases, which is tied for sixth in the American League.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and Twitter.
