While they may have the strongest arms, pitchers aren’t typically considered the most athletic players on a baseball roster. But minor league pitcher Bowen Plagge of the Chicago White Sox single A affiliate Kannapolis Cannon Ballers put that stereotype to the test with an absolutely stunning display of athleticism this week.
With one out at the bottom of the eighth inning of a game against the Carolina Mudcats, a Carolina batter sent the ball right to the Kannapolis second baseman, who quickly threw to third base to put the runner in a pickle. When the ball got to Plagge, he took matters into his own hands, ending the inning with his feet instead of his arm.
You’re going to want to watch this Bowen Plagge double play more than once 😱@MiLB | @MLB | @whitesox | @FutureSox | @soxmachine_josh | @dailywhitesox | @FutureSox pic.twitter.com/ZEMiRNyoTr
— Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (@Kcannonballers) August 9, 2022
The Chicago White Sox pitching prospect showed off his speed, going full sprint to catch both runners on the basepath. The unorthodox double play ended the inning and provided perhaps the play of the year for the Cannon Ballers.
Plagge’s stunning showcase of speed caught the attention of the baseball world, who took to social media to express their amazement.
Can't show this to the kids since we're constantly telling them that throwing the ball is faster than running it. https://t.co/ZU6VDMWWsE
— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) August 11, 2022
Promote immediately https://t.co/wLonbjvEju
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) August 11, 2022
What a play!!!!! https://t.co/o7ojOW55Xh
— Chester M. Pitts, II (@ChesterPitts) August 11, 2022
A DP I've NEVER seen before in baseball.
How do you score that?
4-5-2-5-1-1?
//@lcooney @sogrady @seong17 @gsaab @DonaldOJDK @MikaelVidstedt https://t.co/CVZ32y6eUS
— Шарат Чандер 💙💛🇺🇦 #IStandWithUkraine (@Sharat_Chander) August 11, 2022
This really is remarkable. Pitcher was running like he got shot out of a… well… cannon. https://t.co/GmOCbWiRQM
— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) August 11, 2022
Your classic 4-5-2-1-1 double play https://t.co/QZQHlA4iBT
— Shane van Nichol55on (@ofvoid) August 11, 2022
Even though Plagge probably hoped to go viral for his arm, but he surely won’t turn down this positive attention.
