A bizarre play described as something we will never see again makes history during the Twins-White Sox game. Red Sox No. 1 farm system pitching prospect Brayan Bello will make his MLB start for Boston on Wednesday.
Wild play makes MLB history
On Monday night, July 4, 2022, a wild play occurred during the night game between the Minnesota Twins and home team Chicago White Sox--one that was written in the history books of Major League Baseball.
It was a triple play, but a type known as an "8-5" triple play that had never occurred in the history of the sport, the Daily Wire reported. In the history of Major League Baseball, there have been just over 700 triple plays, but never one of the 8-5 type.
Watch this spectacular play
The bizarre play was rightly described as something we will never see again, and for any baseball fan, it's fun to watch. The play can be seen here on MLB's YouTube channel.
Play result of runners failing to tag up
The play occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning. The White Sox were at bat, with Yoan Moncada on first base and Adam Engel on second. A.J. Pollock made a deep drive into center, and the two runners took off, failing to tag up. Presumably, they thought it was a homer or the catch wouldn't be made. Wrong!
Twins All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton made the catch at the wall, then quickly spun and fired it toward third baseman Giovanny Urshela, where Engel held up. Urshela tagged Moncada halfway between second and third base, then ran and touched second base because Engel had failed to tag up before running from second to third. Because Moncada didn't tag up at first base before running, Urshela threw to first for the third out.
What the 8-5 designation means
The "8-5" numerical designation refers to the play being started by the centerfielder (the 8th player) and finished by the (5th player) according to playing positions.
For quick explanation, baseball player positions are numbered as follows: 1-pitcher, 2-catcher, 3-1st base, 4-2nd base, 5-3rd base, 6-shortstop, 7-left field, 8-center field, 9-right field.
Pitching prospect Brayan Bello will make MLB debut for Boston
Considered the No. 1 pitching prospect in the Red Sox's farm system, Brayan Bello will make his major-league debut when he takes the mound for Boston on Wednesday night starting against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Just 23 years old, Bello has only been pitching for Boston's farm team the Worcester WooSox for just a couple of months. Then he got the call, following the team's 6-4 win over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, that he would start for the Red Sox on Wednesday night, NESN reported.
Bello was promoted from Double-A Portland on May 17, and posted a 6-2 record in just nine games with the WooSox, striking out 72 batters with a 2.81 ERA in 51 1/3 innings, MassLive reported. He's held opposing batters to a .209 average.