PITTSBURGH -– Will Craig showed Friday afternoon there is more than just one lesson to be learned from making a historic mistake Thursday. Along with knowing never to allow a play like that to happen again, it also provided an example in accountability.
“I messed up,” Craig admitted about the play. “I came off the bag and caught the ball. Turned to look at him and saw him bolt towards home. I kind of lost my mind for a second. Released the ball to home after taking a couple of steps. After that, it all went downhill from there.”
“As soon as I released the ball, I was like ‘oh my gosh, what am I doing’. I know better than that. It’s simple baseball 101. I guess in my mind when I saw him running back. I kind of lost my mind for a second.”
A rookie with only 15 games of MLB experience, Craig refrained from turning on the television or logging on to anything online including social media. He had enough friends call him to let him know what was being said.
“Last night was tough,” Craig said. “I replayed that 100 plus times in my head what happened. I realized there is more to this game than one little mess up. Of course I will be on a blooper real for the rest of my life probably, but I have to keep moving forward with it.”
“The best way to do it is to accept it head on. Don’t deny it, don’t shy away from it. It happened. I can’t let this one day reflect the rest of my season.”
He could have wondered publically why his catcher asked for a throw or why his pitcher did yell to go back to first. Maybe wonder why his second baseman wasn’t at the bag as in a rundown situation. But Craig took it all on himself saying he knows better and doesn’t want this ‘one mishap’ reflect on his life’s work in baseball.
To date, his life’s work in baseball as not only been as an above average hitter. He was an outstanding relief pitcher in college and won a Gold Glove two years ago in the minors.
“I take pride in my defense,” the 26-year-old said. “I know I’m a good defender. I know I can do a lot of things very well on the defensive side of the ball. It’s never happened in baseball before so it’s one of those things I wasn’t expecting. I take responsibility for it. Got to keep moving forward, can’t live in the past.”
The Pirates 2016 first round pick, Craig thanked his manager, coaches and teammates for having his back. Someone else who played for the Pirates also wanted to show his support. Broadcaster John Wehner joined the reporters Zoom call and told Craig.
“As someone who has been there and done that, done something similar to where you just want to go and hide and not face the music,” Wehner said. “I have so much respect for you. I thought about you all night last night.”
“I’ve been there. You want to climb under a rock and not come out. Obviously this will go away, it will fade. Everybody will forget about it.”
We probably won’t forget the play anytime soon, but hopefully we will also remember how he owned up to it.