MLB star runs back to dugout without getting tagged or forced out after hitting ground ball
For a guy who’s in his sixth major-league season, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar doesn’t seem to be terribly well-versed in one of the basic rules of baseball.
That rule, among the first they teach young children playing tee-ball, is quite simple: When you hit a ball fair, you must run to the first-base bag.
But on Wednesday afternoon, during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Villar did just the opposite.
With runners on second and third and one out in the top of the fifth inning, Villar bounced a grounder right to first baseman Jose Martinez.
Martinez fielded the ball cleanly and then ran down the first-base line, intending to tag Villar out himself.
But instead of allowing himself to be tagged, Villar came to a screeching halt midway between home and first.
Then, something even more strange happened: He started running back to the batter’s box.
Martinez never actually tagged him out, and before Villar reached home, he started jogging back to the dugout.
Eventually, Martinez appeared to throw to first to officially get the out.
Though he might have been out, Martinez’ at-bat was not in vain, as the runner from third scored on the play to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.
After the game, which the Brewers won 3-2, Villar spoke to MLB.com and tried to explain his thought process.
“I don’t go all the way because he stayed in the middle,” he said, “so I’ve got to stop and he followed me back. I’ve got to run back.”
Martinez, for his part, seemed to appreciate Villar’s creativity.
“He plays happy all the time, he’s funny. That guy is very good,” Martinez said.
It was an entertaining play to say the least, one that brought a little excitement to a matchup between two teams who are hovering around .500 in the early going.
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