Chandler Simpson’s legs produced two very different snapshots in the early innings of World Series Game 3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
First, they got him thrown out. Then they helped him author a highlight-reel catch that shook off the miscue almost immediately.
In the bottom of the first, Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice groundout and then took off for second with two outs. He was flying at 30.5 feet per second - with 30 feet per second considered elite - and he beat William Contreras’ throw to the bag. But as he slid, his momentum carried him past the base, and Brice Turang tagged him out to end the inning.
He didn’t have to wait long for a chance to answer back.
In the top of the second, with one out and a runner on first, Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick sent a ball into left field. Simpson raced back toward the short wall near the foul line, tracked it down, and left his feet for a leaping catch just before crashing into the wall. He hit the ground afterward, looked momentarily shaken up, but got the ball back into the infield and stayed in the game.
“I was heading toward the wall, knew I was going to have to make a leaping catch," Simpson said during an in-game interview on the FOX broadcast. "I was trying to get a glove on it, and I’m glad I was able to corral it in.”
By the end of the second inning, Simpson had already delivered one of the night’s defining sequences.
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