Cardinals' Arenado Crashes into Stands to Make Masterful Play

The play looked almost identical to Arenado's incredible catch on May 4 on a pop-up by the New York Mets' Juan Soto. 

The six-time platinum glover landed awkwardly into the seats, leaving him wincing in pain on the field for over a minute. Arenado told the media after the game that he hit his kidney off of the seat which knocked the wind out of him while he was down. 

Described as "one of the toughest dudes" Cardinals' manager Oliver Marmol has "ever been around," Arenado refused to leave the game after taking the tumble. 

"It speaks to who he is as a competitor," Marmol said. "What he continues to do is incredibly impressive."

Finishing 0-for-4 at the dish, Arenado said he wanted to contribute to the team's win any way he could.

"I try not to take my at-bats out (on defense)," he said. "The ball finds you, so I always try to be ready for it, but I just have to contribute somehow until things change."

Despite his strong defensive performance this season - in which he ranks No. 14 in the MLB with five outs above average - Arenado is hitting just .222 average with two home runs in the month of May. 

Although he may not feel like he's pulling his weight as the Cardinals continue surging, Arenado's teammates believe he has been a key contributor to getting the team where it is today. 

"Without him showing (up) and sacrificing (himself) and doing the things that he's doing, I don't think we are where we are," Cardinals' pitcher Sonny Gray told the media after the game. 

"He comes to the ballpark every day wanting to be that next level better," Victor Scott II added.