Say what you will about the state of Nolan Arenado’s production at the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals.
His power just hasn’t been there at the level of expected consistency over the past couple of years.
His role in the bottom half of the Cardinals lineup could simply be the new normal given his OPS nestled into the low .700s. Maybe that’s just the way it is moving forward.
But in 2025, in his age 34 season, this gentleman is playing some of the best third base defense we’ve ever seen.
His contributions at the hot corner were especially relevant on Tuesday night as the Cardinals held on to beat the Cubs in an 8-7 thriller. Arenado’s defense helped secure the win for the Cardinals on the final pitch of the game—but to say it was his glovework that sealed the deal would be a factual inaccuracy, because he didn’t use the leather to pull off the game-saving play.
If you haven't yet seen the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman play a short hop barehanded (with a base runner bearing down) before firing a strike to first to keep the tying run from scoring and to end the game… Well, get a load of this.
Nolan Arenado calls game 😤 pic.twitter.com/vR8zvP5S76
— MLB (@MLB) June 25, 2025
Wow.
Every time I watch it, the play becomes more impressive. And you notice something new upon each viewing.
Arenado’s subtle movements to put his body in position to make an on-time throw before ever receiving the baseball. That’s just natural instinct at work.
Pete Crow-Armstrong coming from second base toward third honestly does a brilliant job of working to interfere with Arenado’s concentration, but without making any physical contact or committing any interference. Didn’t matter—Arenado stuck with it to complete the play.
Just how much mustard Arenado got on the throw to nab the runner by a half step—that’s a dart.
Or how about Willson Contreras’ stretch to ensure the out, while keeping a toe on the bag? You want to talk about an underrated defender, man, how good has Contreras been in his acclimation to his new role at first base this season? Those pushup contests between him and Alec Burleson back in spring training were apparently worthwhile.
The play on its own is poetry in motion, but to consider the circumstances of the moment—it doesn’t get more clutch than that.
The walk-off defensive gem in the truest sense of the phrase had the Cardinals fired up after beating the Cubs for the second night in a row to pull within 2.5 games of first place in the NL Central race.