Lourdes Gurriel Jr. makes sensational diving catch

August 10, 2025

Not only was the bat of Cuban player Lourdes Gurriel Jr. a key piece in Arizona Diamondbacks' 6×5 victory over Colorado Rockies last Saturday, August 9, but he also delivered a defensive gem that prevented at least an extra-base hit by the batter at the plate.

It was the top of the fifth inning when the desert dwellers were down by one on the scoreboard. Venezuelan pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez had just dominated with a flyout to Warming Bernabel, and then faced the sixth batter in the Rocky lineup.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sends Chase Field into a frenzy with monumental catch

The local left-hander needed to get out of that inning without major setbacks, so he decided to attack Brenton Doyle with a 91.6 mph fastball right down the middle, a pitch the opponent decided to let pass. For the next one he threw a 90.1 MPH cut fastball that Doyle didn't miss.

Doyle drove a line drive to left field with clear intentions of sending it deep into the field, to shake up the performance of the native pitcher. As the ball came off the bat, the visiting player was heading to the gap to position himself to score.

However, "Yunito" read that connection with determination while running diagonally toward his left. When he realized he could reach it, he chose to extend his gloved hand and throw himself forward to get a better reach.

Once suspended in the air, he caught the ball to record the second out with a sensational play that eliminated at least Brenton Doyle's fourteenth double and what could have been a potential tying run for the visiting team.

Thanks to the impressive defensive display in left field, his teammate Eduardo Rodríguez tipped his cap in a sign of gratitude. After that, the Venezuelan pitcher recorded the final out with a flyout by Kyle Karros.

His numbers as an outfielder in 2025

Although the Cuban player has not figured in defensive statistics this regular season that could lead him to be selected for the Gold Glove in left field, it is worth noting that he possesses a .989 fielding percentage, with three assists and 873.2 innings accumulated in 101 games played.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. established himself as one of the outstanding protectors of position seven, delivering on countless occasions fabulous plays that always end up among the most memorable of the week.

The last game of the series between Colorado Rockies and Diamondbacks is scheduled for this Sunday, August 10. The assigned pitchers are Brandon Pfaadt (11-7, 5.02 ERA) and Tanner Gordon (2-4, 6.59 ERA). "Play Ball" will be called at 4:10 p.m. Eastern time.