WATCH: Javier Baez hoovers up ground ball as part of flashy web gem

Sliding across the outfield grass and cleanly fielding a hard-hit grounder, "El Mago" pulled off a magical defensive highlight.

by Cole Little - Senior Writer - Friday, June 18, 2021, 10:20 PM

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez has made a plethora of incredible defensive plays lately, and he channeled his inner vacuum cleaner in making yet another at Wrigley Field on Friday. "El Mago" sucked up a burner hit in the 5-6 hole by Miami Marlins first baseman Jesus Aguilar and quickly fired the ball to first base for a putout.

Baez went down to the outfield grass in order to glove the hard-hit grounder. He then hopped up and spun around in the blink of an eye before gunning a laser across the diamond to Anthony Rizzo. The web gem ended the top of the fifth. Interestingly, second baseman Sergio Alcantara made a similar play on the other side of the infield earlier in the inning.