Tag: Kolten Wong

Kolten Wong actually took the bag after stealing second base against Yadier Molina

Literally stole the base.

Throughout his Hall of Fame career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Yadier Molina has been regarded as among the best defensive catchers in the game. He’s super reliable behind the plate and notoriously good at throwing out would-be base stealers.

While the league average for caught-stealing percentage is usually around 30 percent, Molina has thrown out 40 percent of base stealers in his career. And in his younger days, he posted seasons in the 50 and 60-percent range.

His arm is still so good that the Brewers’ Kolten Wong had to take a souvenir for himself after successfully stealing a bag against Molina. Like, Wong literally stole the base.

During the eighth inning of the Brewers’ 6-4 win on Wednesday, Wong got himself a good jump on a breaking ball and took off for second base. The call was close enough that the Cardinals challenged the play.

But as the safe call was being reviewed, the former Cardinals teammates could be seen joking with each other from second and home. When the umpiring crew came back with the safe ruling, Wong acted like he was going to take the base with him — Rickey Henderson style.

He wasn’t joking, though. When the game was over, Wong actually stole the base.

He took the bag out and carried it with him to the clubhouse. After all, Wong spent eight seasons watching Molina’s arm in action. He knew exactly how difficult it was to steal off him.

Might as well take the bag as a trophy.

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Brewers Kolten Wong sheds tears during at-bat in return to St. Louis after standing ovation

A heartwarming homecoming for Kolten Wong in St. Louis.

There’s nothing like returning to a place you once called home. Kolten Wong is no exception to that feeling, as the former St. Louis Cardinal — and current Milwaukee Brewer — got an emotional taste of his former home.

Thursday’s matchup between the Cardinals and Brewers was Wong’s first game against his former team. Wong played 852 games with the Cardinals from 2013 to 2020 before St. Louis declined his player option for the 2021 season, making him a free agent before the Brewers picked him up.

Before his first at-bat on Thursday, Wong was greeted by the Cardinals faithful with a standing ovation, one that clearly made him misty-eyed while at the plate.

Wong’s emotional response to the standing ovation in a stadium he once called home is at once heartwarming and bittersweet. The 30-year-old second baseman did also have some fun at the expense of his former teammates before the game, tossing peanuts and overall having a good time during the lineup announcement.

Between the fun pregame shenanigans, his well-deserved standing ovation, and emotional at-bat, Wong’s St. Louis homecoming was surely a day to remember.

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