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Every time you go to the stadium, you might see something you’ve never seen before. And that was the case Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field, where fans saw the first 8-5 triple play in MLB history. The Minnesota Twins turned their first-ever triple play against the home Chicago White Sox ( GameTracker ), although it would be more accurate to say the White Sox ran into the triple play.
Here is the video. AJ Pollock lofted a well-struck fly ball with runners on first and second to Byron Buxton in center field, and Yoan Moncada and Adam Engel had a bit of a mental error on base after the catch.
Although the triple play is the headliner, you have to take a moment to appreciate Buxton’s catch. This was not an easy game. Statcast says Pollock’s drive had an 82 percent hit probability based on launch angle and exit velocity. Buxton is just as good in the center of the field.
MLB.com and the SABR database confirm that this is indeed the first 8-5 triple play in baseball history. By my unofficial count, this is the 27th triple play started by a center fielder, and the first since former New York Mets center fielder Angel Pagan started an 8-2-6-3 triple play with a catch against the Washington Nationals in 2010 Mr.
The Twins have made a habit of turning triple plays over the past few years. Monday was their fourth of 2019. No team has more. The White Sox, meanwhile, have hit triple plays in back-to-back seasons after going none from 2011-20.
It’s the third triple play this season. The Texas Rangers flipped a 3-3-6 triple play against the Seattle Mariners on April 20, and the Nationals flipped a 5-4-3 triple play against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 20.
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