Austin Hays Is Proving To Be An Elite Defender In Baltimore

Originally posted on The Cold Wire | By Curt Bishop | Last updated 6/24/22

The Baltimore Orioles are not a team you look at and think of as a postseason contender, even with the extra Wild Card being added in each league thanks to the new CBA.

They own a record of 32-39 and sit at the bottom of the American League East division, 20.5 games behind the New York Yankees.

But that doesn’t mean that their season has been devoid of good moments, particularly when it comes to outfielder Austin Hays.

He’s been giving the Orioles a boost in the outfield.

Sarah Langs of MLB.com tweeted that he had three of the fastest tracked throws for the Orioles since the start of 2016.

Fastest-tracked throws on OF assists, Orioles since start of 2016:

97.6 mph — Austin Hays, 5/20/22
96.4 mph — Austin Hays, Tonight
95.0 mph — Austin Hays, 6/2/22 https://t.co/Wg6HCWhM3j

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 24, 2022

Don’t Test Hays

Hays has a cannon for an arm.

95-97 mph for all three of his throws is insane.

The fact that he’s made all those throws this season is even more impressive.

He can throw guys out and make tremendous plays in the outfield.

And his throw to the plate last night was right on the money to nab Gavin Sheets and prevent him from scoring.

If he can make throws that hard to get guys out at the plate, then he belongs in the All-Star Game.

The 26-year-old left fielder is having himself a pretty good year at the plate too, with his average at .287, his home run total at 10, and his RBI total sitting at 40.

He also has an .827 OPS.

So not only can he make great plays in the outfield, but he can hit too.

He can do it all and is a key piece for the Orioles going forward.

He’s turned himself into a force defensively and proved last night why running on him is simply a bad idea.

This article first appeared on The Cold Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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