Remember when Alex Bregman did that thing where he bounced the ball to second base instead of throwing it on a line? Yeah, you're probably gonna see that a lot more often.
It's already happening at the college baseball ranks. Iowa third baseman Raider Tello pulled it off Tuesday evening against St. Thomas for the start of a silky smooth double play in the sixth inning:
Hello Tello ?
Double play ends the top of the sixth!#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/PJsJh0DFm7
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) March 5, 2024
Double Dip ??
Bounce Pass ?? 5-4-3#SCTop10 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/jdVQZ0u7vS
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) March 6, 2024
If that looks familiar, it's because Major League Baseball players such as Bregman started doing it first. But why do it at all?
Tello took the time to respond to someone on X by saying it produces a more accurate throw, plus the sun was a factor.
More accurate on the run and the sun in his eyes
— Raider Tello (@Domiraider1) March 6, 2024
According to Bregman — the third baseman for the Houston Astros — bouncing the ball to second base when you're on the move to your left is easier than trying to "guide a softer throw."
Haha been practicing this after I saw Rendon do it in Anaheim. Easier to be accurate doing this then trying to guide a softer throw to second base while running full speed to the left.
— Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) March 8, 2023
"Haha been practicing this after I saw Rendon do it in Anaheim. Easier to be accurate doing this then trying to guide a softer throw to second base while running full speed to the left," Bregman tweeted after he pulled off his own bounce pass in a spring training game last year.
Bregman is referring to Anthony Rendon, who has done the tricky play himself before:
Anthony Rendon with an impressive diving stop at third and then he purposely bounced his throw to second for the third out to get Patrick Sandoval out of a jam. It's something Rendon works on pregame, including today. It's something he saw Alex Bregman do. pic.twitter.com/1rtNxyxoCU
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 15, 2023
It's moves like this that make you really appreciate how much these players study the game to perfect their craft. Don't be surprised if you're at a game and you see the third baseman spiking the ball in the dirt. It's on purpose.
Now that the bounce pass is making its way through college baseball, we can expect to see it in Little League next. I, for one, cannot wait.
