Gio Urshela covered 126 feet to make what was likely the MLB catch of the year in the sixth inning of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, and luckily, he was spared any serious injury when he covered several more feet into the Rays’ dugout.
“To be honest, I felt like it was really bad. I had a lot of pain at that moment, and I didn’t know what was happening, but thank God I feel as good as I do,” Urshela said after the game, which he stayed in for a couple more innings before being replaced on defense. “I don’t remember anything but falling down the stairs. Thank God I didn’t hit my head or anything like that.”
Urshela said he smiled when he opened his eyes and saw he hung on to the ball, knowing he had made a huge play to try to help the Yankees’ playoff push.
“That was an incredible play, but I was just trying to help my team make every out. Tampa has a really good team and we can’t waste outs,” he said. “When I was running I was just thinking about making the catch, and after that, I saw the stairs, and just tried to save my body from the benches.”
“That was an unbelievable play, I can’t even explain how awesome that was,” said Rougned Odor, who played third base but was in the second base hole as part of the Yankees’ defensive shift on the play. “He plays hard and always gives 100 percent, and not many people can do that.”
Chad Green was on the mound when it happened, and he didn’t even think Urshela had a chance to make the play as it was. He lost sight of Urshela as he went into the dugout, and although it led to a scary moment, Green is glad his shortstop made the play.
“Knowing we’re in a shift, any fly ball over there will be a tough play. Off the bat I didn’t think he had a chance, but going full speed, knowing there was no place to go once he caught it, that was incredible,” Green said. “Afterwards it was a little scary; I didn’t know what to expect, just hoping he was okay, but glad to see he finished the game and made a great catch.”
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Luckily, Urshela said he just hit a little bit of his body – mostly his legs – on the benches in the dugout, but was spared serious injury, and he thinks he’ll be good to go for Tuesday’s Wild Card Game.
“I feel really good, just a little sore. I think the off day tomorrow will be good for me, and I think I’ll be ready (Tuesday),” Urshela smiled.
Amazing, considering many teammates thought that may have been the end of Urshela’s season.
“I was scared and went over there to see how he was. Thank god nothing crazy happened,” Odor said. “When I saw him come back in, I was like, ‘wow.’ He’s one of those guys who gives you his best every day, and when he came out, it sparked us, like we have to go now.”
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“I was scared for him because you never know; you hold your breath, because going in there, it could’ve been a head injury or maybe his knee hit the bench,” Jameson Taillon added. “But, not surprising that Gio was willing to give up his body for the team; he’s played great defense all year, and has been one of the best teammates I’ve ever played with.”
One reporter asked Urshela if he has ever seen Derek Jeter’s famous dive into the stands against Boston (he had), and when asked if his play was in that lore, all he said was “at the end of the day, we both made the play.”
Taillon, at least, gave his teammate a little more credit.
“Given the circumstances, that’s gotta be one of the best catches I’ve ever seen.”
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