With three Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards, Matt Chapman is not only one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball, but one of the game’s best defensive players regardless of position. If anyone needed a reminder, Chapman provided it during Wednesday’s game between his Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.
With left-handed power hitting Rafael Devers at the plate, the Blue Jays had a shift. Three men were on the right side of second base while one was on the left side. One of the drawbacks of a shift is it makes double plays tricky to turn, either because of awkward positioning or players playing out of position. The latter was the case on Wednesday as Chapman — the lone defender on the left side — was playing at the shortstop position.
So, when Chapman had to go to his right and leave his feet to field a grounder from Devers, a double play seemed impossible. Only, thanks to a spectacular play from Chapman, it was not only possible but executed. Chapman fielded the grounder from Devers and made a perfect backhand flip to Toronto’s regular shortstop, Bo Bichette. Bichette then threw a strike to first base, completing the double play.
🤯 @mattchap6 does MAGIC! pic.twitter.com/d86P7RboUt
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 24, 2022
The MLB was amazed at Chapman’s glovework and the incredible double play turned by the Blue Jays.
Matt Chapman makes me smile.
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) August 24, 2022
Matt Chapman ends the inning by jogging off with the "I just did some wild shit but am trying to be cool about it" smile. What a play. #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 24, 2022
Matt Chapman is an absolute wizard man. Wouldn’t care if he hit like Bradley Zimmer as long as he’s bringing that defense
— Аlex Hobson (@AHobsonMedia) August 24, 2022
Matt Chapman is still easily the best defensive 3B in baseball. Here’s an example. #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/101OFDNu7V
— Doc Naismith ℠ (@DocNaismith) August 25, 2022
Matt Chapman just did a really incredible thing. That was fun to watch.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) August 24, 2022
That was just silly. Like, honestly ridiculous.
Matt Chapman. Wow.#Bluejays
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) August 24, 2022
Chapman’s had some struggles at the plate this year with a .236 batting average and .315 on-base percentage entering Wednesday’s game. Fortunately, peripheral numbers generally suggest those numbers are a bit unlucky. He’s also slugging .467 and has 24 home runs, so the power is there.
If you’re getting good power and that kind of defense from your third baseman, it’s a win.
