The absolute worst feeling for an outfielder has to be when the ball gets by you and continues to roll to the wall. Everyone in the stadium knows you messed up — you can hear it! — and turning around to chase after the ball has to be so embarrassing.
It gets even worse when the person who hit the ball is one of the fastest players in the game.
Rays outfielders Randy Arozarena and Kevin Kiermaier got to experience that worst-case scenario on Thursday against the A’s.
With speedy A’s outfielder Cristian Pache at the plate, a ground ball up the middle had Arozarena sliding on a do-or-die effort to cut off the ball. He was unaware that Kiermaier was right there in solid position to field the ball, which was unfortunate for the Rays because that sliding attempt had the ball deflecting all the way to the wall.