Player of the gameNoah CameronKCR6.0ip 7h 4er 2bb 6k
You never know when you’ll have to break out a Harlem Globetrotters-esque trick play on a baseball diamond. For Pirates first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, his time to shine came in the top of the fifth inning, with his back to the intended target. In Saturday night's 6-5 comeback win over the Royals at PNC Park, O’Hearn flipped the ball between his legs to pitcher Brandon Eisert to record the out at first base. A run scored on the sacrifice bunt from Michael Massey, but O’Hearn’s action looked more like that of a between-the-legs slam dunk than your typical first baseman’s antics. O’Hearn wasn’t too surprised at the outcome. He practices the play every day alongside second baseman Brandon Lowe and assistant coach Ryan Jackson. “You never know when you might need it in the game,” O’Hearn told MLB.com. “That was like a do-or-die type play on the bunt there. I don't think there was any other possible way that I could have gotten the out other than just a quick glove-flip between the legs. So yeah, it's pretty sick.” With his body turned away from the base, O’Hearn kept his head perfectly positioned at Eisert charging from the mound to first base. It’s not fair to call the play a no-look pass, but a between-the-legs dish is just as nice. O’Hearn said he debated going behind-the-back, though the between-the-legs move was more efficient. O’Hearn, who played in his 437th MLB game at first on Saturday, had used the glove-flip before in-game, but never like this. Lowe had a front-row seat, and a smile to pair.
